This year, a new generation of players will discover the secret of this historic stadium, after it becomes the first stadium in the world to host World Cup matches in three different editions, after 1970, 1986 and 2026.
According to Al Jazeera English, the Azteca World Cup 2026 will enter after about two years of renovation work, to be ready to receive the matches of the largest edition in the history of the tournament, with a capacity of approximately 83 thousand spectators.
Construction of the stadium, known as the “Giant of Santa Ursula,” began in 1961 and was completed 5 years later. Its opening match witnessed the presence of more than 107,000 fans during a confrontation between Mexican Club America and Italian Torino.
The Azteca was not late in making history, as it was used during the Olympic Games in Mexico City in 1968, and hosted the final in which Hungary beat Bulgaria 4-1.
Just two years later, the stadium became the major showcase for the 1970 World Cup, when Mexico became the first country outside of Europe and South America to host the tournament. Azteca hosted 10 matches in that edition, including the opening match between Mexico and the Soviet Union, which ended in a goalless draw.
It was also the scene of one of the greatest World Cup matches, when Italy beat West Germany 4-3 after extra time in an exciting semi-final. But the most prominent scene remained in the final, when Brazil beat Italy 4-1, and Pele lifted the cup on the field.
However, the history of the Azteca did not stop with Pele. In the 1986 World Cup, the stadium returned to the forefront, this time with Diego Maradona. In the quarter-final between Argentina and England, Maradona scored the famous “Hand of God” goal, after he used his left hand to push the ball into the net, without the referee noticing the violation.
A few minutes later, Maradona presented another facet of his genius, when he dribbled past a number of England players and scored one of the most beautiful individual goals in the history of football. After that, the Argentine national team continued its path to the final, where it beat West Germany 3-2 and lifted the cup in Mexico City.
The Azteca not only has historical value, but also represents a great physical challenge for the teams. The stadium, which is the largest in Latin America, is located at an altitude of about 2,200 meters above sea level, which makes playing in it more difficult due to the lack of oxygen and high physical pressure.
The Mexican national team is expected to play two of its three group stage matches at this stadium, and it may also play matches in the knockout stages, which gives it a clear public and environmental advantage.
Experts in sports science say that the increase may lead to a faster feeling of fatigue, an increase in the heart rate at the same level of effort, and a decline in the ability to repeat the high physical efforts that characterize modern football.
For this reason, teams usually advise either a long acclimatization period of at least two weeks, or a late arrival shortly before the match to avoid severe symptoms of altitude.
Over the past two years, the stadium has undergone development works that include new seats, updated locker rooms, improved lighting, and a pedestrian bridge linking it to the transportation networks in the Hueblico neighborhood. Despite the delays that accompanied the project, the stadium was reopened in March during a friendly match between Mexico and Portugal that ended in a goalless draw.
Now, Azteca is preparing to host 5 matches in the 2026 World Cup, including the opening ceremony, adding a new chapter to its long history.
From Pele to Maradona, and from 1970 to 2026, the Azteca is not just a football stadium, but a theater of global memory, where matches turn into unforgettable moments.
