Mexico City modernizes stadium for World Cup opening match

Mexico City is increasing efforts to modernize the Estadio Azteca complex and get it ready to host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup hosted by Mexico, Canada and the US. 

But the private-sector project will first have to be approved in a public consultation, mayor Claudia Sheinbaum said on Thursday, adding her administration has already highlighted some changes to the modernization plans.

“What is going to be done is a consultation and the modifications that the project requires. It is a private project, not a real estate development, it is an improvement of the space, it has some developments like a hotel,” Sheinbaum said during a press conference.

“It is not a concession of public space, far from it, it is a development project in the private space of the Estadio Azteca. A public consultation will be held, the participation of residents and all [their] problems … will be addressed,” she added. 

Sheinbaum met recently with several key actors involved in the project and organization of the event. 

Among them were Estadio Azteca’s general director Félix Aguirre, who will oversee the works; Grupo Televisa CEO Emilio Azcárraga, owner of the stadium; and FIFA’s chief competitions and events officer, Colin Smith, who visited Mexico to inspect the proposed facilities. 

On Twitter, Sheinbaum said her administration and the stadium’s executives proposed to Smith giving the opening match to the capital, which could spark a tourism boom. 

FIFA will select the facilities by year-end. 

The project

According to Aguirre, the project is already being analyzed by national and international firms, but a final draft is not ready yet. 

“I believe there are many areas of opportunity. First, we have to comply with a basic FIFA charge book and there we have to try to project the stadium into the future. So, we are already working with international and national firms to have a clear idea and a path to the remodeling we need,” Aguirre said at a press conference Thursday. 

“We will be in some near period presenting the idea of what we have to do for the stadium for FIFA and for the future of the stadium,” he said. 

Local media reported plans include building a shopping center, a parking lot and a hotel, which will be connected to the stadium through an underground tunnel.

Background

As a World Cup host, Mexico will have to modernize and expand sports facilities in line with international standards.

Mexico’s soccer federation (FMF) was reportedly in talks with FIFA in April to determine the number of locations to host 10 of the tournament’s 80 matches. Overall, 48 countries will be competing. 

The federation wants to include Mexico City, Jalisco state and Nuevo León state, as each has one major stadium available.

Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Estadio Akron in Jalisco state capital Guadalajara, and Estadio BBVA in Nuevo León state capital Monterrey are likely venues.