World Cup 2026 stadium guides: Welcome to Mexico City and the most iconic venue of them all (original) (raw)

This article is part of our World Cup Stadium Guides series, in which we look at the 16 venues that will host matches at the 2026 tournament.

Mexico City Stadium — or, as it is more commonly known, Estadio Azteca — is one of the World Cup’s holy sites.

Located in the Mexican capital’s southern sprawl, the stadium has hosted no fewer than 19 matches across two editions of the tournament, including two finals. It was the backdrop for Brazil’s 1970 win and for the Hand of God, Diego Maradona’s infamous opening goal in the 1986 quarter-final against England (and his brilliant second, known as the Goal of the Century). History is hidden in the concrete.

This year, the feeling among locals is that the Colossus of Santa Ursula (as they lovingly call it) has been dealt a slightly dud hand. Yes, the Azteca hosts the opening match, Mexico vs South Africa, as well as two more group games. But its final hurrah will be in the round of 16, after which Mexico (and Canada) will be reduced to watching the United States enjoy what remains of the World Cup party.

What’s it known as normally?

Officially, it is called the Estadio Banorte as a result of a naming-rights deal with a Mexican banking group, signed just over a year ago in order to fund renovations. But to every Mexican — as well as anyone with even a passing interest in World Cup history — it will always be the Estadio Azteca.

What will it be called for the World Cup?

No prizes for creativity here: Mexico City Stadium.

Estadio Azteca was the venue for Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986 (Archivo El Grafico/Getty Images)

When was the stadium opened, how much did it cost and who plays there normally?

The Azteca was opened in 1966 after five years of construction work. Records relating to the cost are thin on the ground, but most estimates put the outlay at more than 200 million Mexican pesos — about $16million or £6million at that time.

Club America have played there ever since, as have the Mexico national team. A handful of other local clubs, such as Cruz Azul, Necaxa and Atlante, have also called it home at various points.

What are the most famous moments that have happened there?

There are enough to fill a book.

Beyond the two World Cup moments already mentioned above, there was also the 1986 World Cup final, a thriller between Argentina and West Germany won by Maradona and company by a 3-2 scoreline. Outside football, the Azteca has hosted NFL international games and big-ticket concerts by acts including Paul McCartney and U2.

How many fans can the stadium hold? And will it be at maximum capacity for the World Cup?

After recent renovations (about which more below), the maximum capacity is now 87,500. We won’t get those numbers at the World Cup, however: FIFA lists the capacity at a much more modest 72,766.

That is a long, long way off the biggest attendances ever recorded at the Azteca. The stadium welcomed around 115,000 fans on numerous occasions during the 1980s and 1990s and, while records are a little fuzzy, some believe as many as 130,000 fans watched the Gold Cup meeting with the USA in 1993.

Estadio Azteca’s maximum capacity is 87,500 (Hector Vivas/LatinContent via Getty Images)

What kind of pitch does it have? Has it had to change for the World Cup?

The Azteca now has a hybrid pitch, made up of 95 per cent grass and five per cent artificial turf. The irrigation system below the surface has also been improved for the World Cup.

The climate

Temperatures in Mexico City do not hit the heights they do elsewhere in the country, mainly because the city is more than 2,000 metres above sea level.

The average daily maximum in June is 74F (25.8C) — hot, yes, but not suffocatingly so. Besides, after the opening game, which starts at 1pm local time, all of the other matches at the Azteca take place in the late afternoon or evening.

The altitude itself could be a much bigger factor, as one expert in sports physiology explained to The Athletic last year.

Are they changing anything else for the World Cup?

The stadium has been renovated extensively over the past two years to bring it up to date for the World Cup. Changes include remodelled corporate areas, a new sound system, a relocated tunnel and bigger screens. The total cost, according to the Mexican football federation, is currently just shy of $300million.

The name ‘Banorte’ was spelled out in white seats among the red seats in the stands; that branding has already been removed. The giant Banorte logos that adorn the upper reaches of the stadium’s exterior will also go before June.

How do I get there?

Parking lots on the west side of the stadium will be closed on match days, with a perimeter preventing cars from getting to within a kilometre of the entrances.

With that in mind, and with traffic in Mexico City fairly punchy at the best of times, driving is not advised. Anyone taking a taxi should leave the city centre well in advance of kick-off and be prepared to walk the final part of the journey.

Public transport provides a good alternative. The Estadio Azteca station is served by a light rail line, which connects to the main Metro at Tasquena; this is expected to be a direct service on match days. Numerous buses drop off at the Santo Tomas/Santa Ursula stop, and there will also be a special connecting bus from two other Metro stations: Perisur, on Line 1, and Canaverales, on Line 5.

The government has also confirmed a park and ride system, operating from the Six Flags theme park.

Estadio Azteca was reopened with a Mexico vs Portugal friendly in March (Rodrigo Oropeza/Getty Images)

What can fans expect at the stadium?

At the reopening of the Azteca, food was mostly served from food trucks, the majority of which were parked up on the east concourse.

Options included barbacoa (slow-cooked beef) and quesabirrias (tacos with stewed meat and melted cheese), as well as more standard stadium fare such as pizzas and burgers. Kiosks served drinks, including Mexican speciality michelada, a mix of lager, spices and lime juice.

It will be interesting to see whether these local flavours will remain available when FIFA come to town, since the offering at World Cup stadiums tends to be relatively homogenous. Either way, expect the verve of Mexican fandom to shine through: a parade of lucha libre masks, sombreros and other colourful costumes awaits you.

Is there anything else we should know about this stadium?

To mark the stadium’s 35th anniversary, a local media outlet set out to find the stadium’s most loyal fan. The winner was Ignacio ‘Nachito’ Villanueva, who produced a box full of ticket stubs and other bits of paraphernalia he had accumulated while supporting Club America.

A solid bronze statue was created in his image — it’s still there, perched 20 rows back from the pitch, in the northwest corner of the stadium.

Which games are being played there?

11 June 2026: Group A: Mexico vs South Africa (1pm local time, 8pm GMT)
17 June 2026: Group K: Colombia vs Uzbekistan (8pm local time, 3am GMT+1)
24 June 2026: Group A: Mexico vs Czechia (7pm local time, 2am GMT+1)
30 June 2026: Round of 32 game (7pm local time time, 2am GMT+1)
5 July 2026: Round of 16 game (6pm local time, 1am GMT+1)

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