The opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup was supposed to be a celebratory, uncontroversial occasion. FIFA has confirmed that the opening match will be held on June 11, 2026 at the Mexico City Stadium, historically known as the Azteca, between the national teams of Mexico and South Africa. However, recent events have highlighted another aspect of the issue. It’s not about the schedule or the opponent, it’s about time. The stadium is undergoing comprehensive renovation works, and as the tournament approaches, signs of concern are beginning to emerge about the possibility that the works will not be completed as quickly as required to ensure operational readiness in accordance with FIFA requirements if delays continue.
The reality on the field does not indicate that work has stopped. Recent photographs taken on 13 February 2026 showed works continuing in and around the stadium, including the installation of a hybrid pitch and new seating, with only a relatively short time remaining until the official opening date. Behind this concern lies an important detail regarding the period leading up to the tournament. Reports indicate that FIFA takes over operational supervision of the stadiums some time before the start of the event, which makes any delay put pressure on the time for organizational tests and experiments that precede the opening match. For this reason, the date of the “big test” is doubly important.
International reports also indicated a plan to reopen the stadium with a friendly match between Mexico and Portugal on March 28, 2026, as a practical step to assess readiness instead of relying on the workshop’s promises.
What is most telling is that the concern does not come only from fans or the press, but the stadium owner was also quoted as saying a statement suggesting complete uncertainty about meeting the deadlines, which reinforced the idea of a “sudden crisis” that fears that the delay could turn into a difficult decision if the matter reaches a critical moment.
However, there is still no sign of an official decision to withdraw the opening ceremony from Mexico City. What has been constant so far is what has been announced, as FIFA confirms that the opening of the tournament will be held in this stadium on June 11, 2026. What is changing is the level of concern about the final readiness, between those who bet on completing the work on time, and those who believe that FIFA may suggest alternative options if all operational requirements are not completed in time.
