The mayor of Coyoacán assured it will be the 'best stadium in the world' by opening match of 2026 event
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The venue will host five matchesThe opening game will take place at the AztecaRenovations will only be made to the interiorFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?
The Estadio Azteca is being prepared to host five matches of the upcoming World Cup, including the opening game. That’s why the venue has been undergoing renovations for a little over six months. With 14 months remaining until the start of the 2026 World Cup, the stadium and the surrounding areas are getting ready to welcome the world with renovated facades, roadways, and public transportation.
The renovation of Estadio Azteca will be strictly internal – the construction will not extend beyond the parking area, and the previously proposed project that included a hotel and shopping center is no longer being considered.
"The intervention is only within the interior of Estadio Azteca, complying with all FIFA regulations in order to host a World Cup. A world-class stadium, with connectivity – it will have Wi-Fi so people can communicate from inside. The exit will be through the center of the field, like in Europe, and it will have new seats. They have all the necessary permits, everything is professional, with work happening 24 hours a day. We’re going to have one of the best, if not best stadium in the world,” Giovani Gutiérrez, mayor of Coyoacán, told ESPN.
Details were also shared regarding the Azteca’s capacity for the tournament, with the major saying “around 90,000 people, that’s what I heard in the last meeting. Comfort and internal mobility are being improved, with everyone in mind."
It was also reported that roadways in Mexico City within a six-mile radius will be closed to ensure fan safety and to accommodate activities such as the FIFA Fan Zone. Additionally, the surrounding areas will feature parking zones to help reduce traffic congestion.
“They’re planning on setting up remote parking lots – that’s part of the early discussions we’re having… Remote parking in different parts of the city and providing mobility options in various zones seems like a very smart idea, because otherwise, just imagine the level of saturation,” the mayor said.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The Estadio Azteca will become the first stadium in history to host three World Cups when it serves as the venue for the opening match on June 11. In the 1970 and 1986 editions, the "Coloso de Santa Ursula" also witnessed the World Cup inaugurations – the first with a match between Mexico and the Soviet Union, and the second with Bulgaria vs. Italy.
As it celebrates its 60th anniversary since opening, Mexico will once again inaugurate a World Cup, just like in 1970. El Tri also kicked off the 2010 World Cup in South Africa against the hosts. The Azteca will host five of the 13 matches Mexico will play in the World Cup, which will be mainly held in the United States.
This stadium will feature three group-stage matches, one round of 16 match, and one round of 8 match.
AFPWHAT THE MAYOR SAID
Near Estadio Azteca, there are plans to create the “Glorieta Frida Kahlo,” which will feature a seven-meter-tall statue of the iconic painter, expected to become “the largest Frida in the world.” The monument is intended to serve as a new tourist attraction.
“What am I going to do? The biggest Frida in the world,” said Gutiérrez. “We’re going to install a Frida, a sculpture – I’m giving you the scoop – she is or represents the great woman of Coyoacán. A woman who represents us is Frida Kahlo. We’ll have her near Estadio Azteca. We’re very excited, because first it changes the surroundings, the spirit of the people – it will be a Frida roundabout."
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?
El Tri will have two preparation matches ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup – against Switzerland on June 7 and Turkey on June 10. After those tune-ups, Mexico will face Costa Rica, Suriname, and the Dominican Republic in the group stage of the tournament.
