Azteca Stadium in Mexico City to host opening match of 2026 World Cup

Mexico will play South Africa in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the newly renovated Azteca Stadium on June 11.

I toured the world-famous Azteca Stadium (now officially known as the Estadio Banorte) in Mexico City back in 2021:

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.

Azteca Stadium – FIFA 2026 World Cup

The Azteca Stadium will be one of three stadiums in Mexico which will host the FIFA 2026 World Cup.

1. Estadio Azteca – “Mexico City Stadium”
2. Estadio Akron – “Guadalajara Stadium”
3. Estadio BBVA – “Monterrey Stadium”

Mexico is one of three countries that will host the 2026 World Cup. The other two being the USA and Canada.

FIFA World Cup 2026 matches to be played at the Azteca Stadium:

Here are the matches scheduled to be played at the Azteca Stadium, which FIFA is calling the Mexico City Stadium:

• June 11, 2026: Mexico vs. South Africa
• June 17, 2026: Uzbekistan vs. Colombia
• June 24, 2026: Mexico vs. Czechia
• June 30, 2026: TBA (Winner Group A vs. 3rd Place C/E/F/H/I)
• July 5, 2026: TBA (Winner Match 79 vs. Winner Match 80)

I visited the Azteca Stadium in 2022 (so apologies for the masks), with 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.
• 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: