The Azteca Stadium (Estadio Azteca), now officially known as the Estadio Banorte, in Mexico City, is the only stadium in the world to host matches for three separate men’s FIFA World Cups.

Guided tours of the Banorte Stadium are unavailable just now.
I toured the world-famous Azteca Stadium (now officially known as the Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City back in 2021.
But I hope to revisit this iconic stadium once the tours are back up and running, to bring you fresh photos and details.
With a seating capacity of 87,523, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is the largest stadium in Mexico and one of the world’s most famous football stadiums.

I visited the Azteca Stadium in 2022—no apologies for the masks—with the then Miss CDMX (now my wife):

It’s easy to get to. Head to the Tasqueña metro station, then jump on the Tren Ligero and get off at Estación Estadio Azteca


Arrival at the Estadio Azteca:


The Azteca Stadium was designed by Pedro Ramírez Vázquez who was responsible for many stadiums, government buildings and museums not only in Mexico but around the world.
It was opened on May 29, 1966:

The Azteca Stadium is regarded as one of the most famous and iconic football stadiums in the world:
Trivia about the Azteca Stadium
- It hosted two World Cup Finals: The 1970 World Cup Final, won by Brazil and the 1986 World Cup Final, won by Argentina.
- The Estadio Azteca is the only football stadium in the world to have both Pelé (1970) and Diego Maradona (1986) win FIFA World Cups; two of the greatest football players ever.
- In the 1986 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals, played on June 22, 1986, Argentina (led by Maradona) went on to win the World Cup after beating England in the quarter-final, a game which featured the “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century”.
- The shirt worn by Maradona on that day when playing against England, recently (May 4, 2022) sold for £7,142,500 at Sotheby’s.
- It is the only stadium in the world to host matches for three FIFA World Cups (1070, 1986 and 2026).
- The Estadio Azteca is also home to Club América, Cruz Azul and the Mexico National Football Team.

Which is the largest stadium in the world?
The seating capacity of the Estadio Azteca is 87,523, which makes it one of the largest in the world.
It used to hold 105,000 people, and at that time it was the largest football stadium in the world. It is still the largest stadium in Latin America and the eighth-largest football stadium in the world.
The largest stadium in the world as of 2025 is the Narendra Modi Stadium in India, which can seat up to 132,000 spectators, although it is used primarily for cricket.
The largest multi-purpose stadium in the world is the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea, and can hold 115,000 spectators.
Azteca Stadium Tour



Our guide in the Adidas T-Shirt at the Tunnel 8 ‘Carlos Reinoso’. The guide spoke English, which gave Miss CDMX a rest from translating all the time:

Tunnel 8 is named after Carlos Reinoso, who was from Chile, but he played for Club América for nine years.
Nomadic Backpacker calls a press conference at the Estadio Azteca:

Entering the dressing room of Club América at the Estadio Azteca:

Dressing Room of Club América at the Estadio Azteca:

Jersey of Guillermo Ochoa, goalkeeper at Club América:

Visiting One Of The Most Famous Football Stadiums In The World: The Estadio Azteca:





Nomadic Backpacker at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City


Three years later, I visited the Mestalla Stadium, home of Valencia CF in Spain:








Fabulous breakdown here. I had heard of Estadio Azteca but had no idea it was so large. Impressive. Incredible history in that place. Neat to know it was the location of the “Hand of God” goal. I recall watching that game as a kid.
Cheers Ryan. Welcome to my blog!!! The tickets now available for the 1st match of the 2026 World Cup are now on sale but the prices are through the roof… so much so that most Mexicans can’t afford them. hell, I would lobe to go but I ain’t dropping 4000 USD on a soccer game….
What?!
That’s nutz.
The World Cup has genuinely become corporate. Insane to charge those prices. Stay home, relax and watch it on streaming. I cannot think of anything lasting a few hours worth 4 G’s.
Here in Mexico, ticket prices are nuts. NFL, FUFA, rock and pop concerts. Its chesper to fly to the US, with everything inc. than to get tickets here.
They sometimes have free concerts downtown. Shakira was here the other week. But imagine in a city with 20 million.
Just took an Uber for 7km. Took 1 hr.