Venezuela football community devastated after deadly earthquake claims lives of players and families

Venezuela has been left in mourning after a devastating earthquake struck the country during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, leaving thousands dead, many injured and countless families displaced.

The powerful earthquake, which hit on Wednesday, June 24, caused widespread destruction across several communities and deeply affected members of the country’s football fraternity, with players, prospects and families among the victims of the disaster.

Footballers Suffer Personal Tragedies

Marítimo de La Guaira player Héctor Bello endured a heartbreaking personal loss after his wife died while protecting their daughter during the collapse of their home.

According to reports, Bello’s wife sacrificed herself by shielding their daughter beneath the rubble as the building came crashing down.

“I will tell her the story of how you saved her, my love, how you gave your life for our daughter, how you were a brave woman who never left her side, not even as you took your last breath,” Bello said.

“You left us to fight this battle alone. How am I supposed to explain to our daughter that you gave your life to save hers, and that I wasn’t there to do anything?” the player wrote on his Instagram story in an emotional tribute.

Bello’s teammate Lucas Trejo also suffered a devastating loss after his wife and their two children were discovered dead following more than 70 hours trapped beneath the rubble.

Young Venezuelan Talents Among Victims

The tragedy also claimed the lives of several young Venezuelan footballers whose careers and dreams were cut short by the disaster.

Yimbert Berroterán died alongside his partner, while Caracas U18 prospect Razan Sijaa also lost his life while staying with relatives.

Ricardo Veloz, regarded as one of Venezuela’s brightest young football talents, was also among the victims of the earthquake.

The youngest football-related casualty reported was 14-year-old Víctor Palacios, a highly promising youngster who dreamed of one day representing Venezuela on the international stage.

Death Toll Continues to Rise

The scale of the disaster continues to shock the nation as rescue and recovery efforts remain ongoing across affected regions.

National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez confirmed on Monday that at least 1,719 people have died following the powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week, with authorities expecting the death toll to rise further in the coming days.

As the football world continues to focus on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Venezuela’s sporting community is instead mourning the loss of players, loved ones and young dreams destroyed by one of the country’s deadliest natural disasters in recent histor