Mexico City is once again preparing to welcome the world's attention as Estadio Azteca—officially renamed Estadio Ciudad de México for the tournament—prepares to host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. On 11 June, Mexico will face South Africa in a game that will mark a unique milestone: no stadium has ever hosted three World Cup opening matches.
The venue, which opened in 1966, has undergone extensive renovations costing approximately 3.6 billion pesos (€160 million), completed in early 2026. With a capacity of around 87,500, it remains the largest stadium in Latin America and a symbol of the continent's footballing passion.
A Stadium Steeped in Football History
Estadio Azteca's legacy is woven into the fabric of the sport. In 1970, Pelé lifted the World Cup trophy there after Brazil's 4-1 victory over Italy in the final. That same tournament produced what is still widely regarded as the greatest World Cup match ever played: the semifinal between Italy and West Germany, which Italy won 4-3 in extra time—the so-called Game of the Century.
Sixteen years later, Diego Maradona led Argentina to glory on the same pitch during the 1986 tournament, beating West Germany 3-2 in the final. It was also here, in the quarterfinals against England, that Maradona scored the infamous Hand of God goal—fans still debate whether he deliberately punched the ball into the net—and, four minutes later, the Goal of the Century, a 60-metre solo run past five English players that FIFA later voted the greatest goal in World Cup history.
Mauricio Rocha Iturbide, a Mexican architect who was inside the stadium for that match, recalls the moment vividly. "When Maradona made those two beautiful goals, the goal where he dribbled past everyone on the field and then the more famous one, the 'Hand of God', we never saw the hand from where we were sitting," he said. "Only the people of England that were very close said, 'This not fair, this is not a goal,' but the referee saw the goal."
For the opening match, Mexico's opponents South Africa bring their own World Cup history. They hosted the 2010 tournament—the first on African soil—and became synonymous with the distinctive sound of the vuvuzela that defined that competition. The Azteca will host five matches during the 2026 World Cup, placing Mexico City at the heart of the tournament once again.
Excitement Builds in the Capital
With just days to go until kickoff, signs of World Cup fever are already visible across the Mexican capital. Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres above sea level—a significant physical challenge for visiting players unaccustomed to the altitude, which can affect endurance in sports competitions. Outside the stadium, fans have been stopping to take photos, meet the tournament mascot, and visit one of the sport's most famous landmarks.
Last Saturday, thousands of supporters gathered nearby to perform a giant human wave in an attempt to break a Guinness World Record. For football fan Monse Palafox, the anticipation is already growing. "Well, it's incredible because, as it says, the ball comes back home," she said. "You can already feel the excitement. I have a feeling that the opening is going to be a great, happy celebration. That's how we do it in Mexico."
Christian Díaz said hosting another World Cup is a source of pride. "Yes, we're very excited," he said. "We've hosted the World Cup twice before and getting to do it again is thrilling."
For some supporters, memories of the last World Cup are still fresh. Pablo Anguiano travelled nearly 15,000 kilometres from Mexico to Qatar for the 2022 competition and was there to witness Argentina lift the trophy after one of the most dramatic finals in World Cup history. "My last World Cup was in Qatar. It was amazing because I really enjoyed the city," he said. "And you can say that you have the most exciting final in the World Cup against Argentina and France."
A World Cup Across Three Countries
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be staged across Mexico, the United States, and Canada—the first worldwide football tournament to be hosted across three countries and the first to feature 48 teams, up from the previous format of 32. Over 39 days, millions of fans are expected to travel between the three host nations as North America hosts the largest World Cup in the tournament's history.
For European readers planning to attend, a practical guide to Guadalajara 2026: A European Fan's Guide to Mexico's World Cup Host City offers insights into another host city. Meanwhile, the tournament's geopolitical backdrop includes stories like Iran's World Cup Squad Trains in Mexico Amid US Visa Turmoil, highlighting the complex logistics of a global event.
