Bay Area World Cup Commotion: Stabbings in San José, Shootings in SF After Mexico Win

Two people were stabbed in separate altercations later that evening, though police said neither suffered life-threatening injuries.

In a statement to Bay City News, the San José Police Department said most people “came to celebrate responsibly,” but that others “engaged in disorderly and unruly conduct that overshadowed what should have been a positive community celebration.”

“We’ve welcomed hundreds of thousands of fans and families to San Pedro Square and downtown at large, and our watch parties have overwhelmingly been safe, welcoming community events,” said Mayor Matt Mahan. “A few people choosing violence can undermine the sense of safety we’ve worked hard to create, but our police department is working overtime to ensure bad actors are held accountable, and our public spaces are open and accessible.”

SJPD described a chaotic scene in which people surrounded and climbed onto an ambulance, interfering with paramedics, and threw bottles at officers trying to regain control, according to Bay City News.

Just after 11:30 p.m., police declared an unlawful assembly and moved to clear the area near Santa Clara Street and Almaden Avenue.

In a dispersal warning posted on social media, officers told the crowd to leave or risk arrest and the use of force — including “an acoustic hailing device, projectile impact weapons, and chemical agents.” A second order to disperse near Post and First streets followed. Those arrested were booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of various crimes, police said.

Two nights earlier, a man was fatally shot and another critically wounded near a World Cup fan zone around North Market and West Santa Clara streets, in what became the city’s 13th homicide of the year.

Police said the shooting was an isolated incident and not linked to the World Cup festivities. More big crowds are expected downtown Wednesday evening, when the United States team takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium — renamed San Francisco Bay Area Stadium per FIFA regulations — in a knockout match.

San José police have said officers will keep a visible presence at World Cup events so fans feel safe.

The San José Police Department and the San Jose Downtown Association did not respond to requests for comment in time for publication.

In San Francisco, two people were shot Tuesday night in the Mission Bay neighborhood near Chase Center after a World Cup watch party earlier that evening.

Police said an argument led to the shooting around 9 p.m.; both victims were hospitalized and are expected to survive, and the suspected shooter fled, according to San Francisco police.

Spark Social, an outdoor food truck park at 601 Mission Bay Blvd.,  announced Wednesday it was canceling its remaining World Cup watch parties for the rest of the tournaments, saying in a social media post that it was prioritizing “the safety and well-being of our community.”