May 9 – One of the true cathedrals of world football, and the only stadium to host two World Cup Finals, the famed Azteca Stadium in Mexico City ,will reopen next March, just in time for the 2026 World Cup co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the U.S.
True football purists will be dismayed to learn that the Azteca will be renamed though. Mexico City Mayor, Clara Brugada, announced this week that moving forward, the venue will be known as ‘Estadio Ciudad de Mexico’ – ‘Mexico City Stadium’.
Located at a lung-busting 7,200 feet above sea-level, this grand old coliseum has witnessed football history including Pelé winning Brazil’s third World Cup with victory over Italy, and perhaps the most famous two goals in World Cup history – the ‘Hand of God’ and four minutes later the ‘Goal of the Century’ by Argentina’s magician, Diego Maradona.
The modernisation push aims to satisfy FIFA’s exacting standards, which include state-of-the-art changing rooms, enhanced hospitality areas, new seating configurations and – naturally – the all-important upgraded VIP accommodations.
‘Estadio Ciudad de Mexico’ will kick off the tournament on June 11 as Mexico plays a yet-to-be-determined opponent in what promises to be an emotional curtain-raiser for El Tri.
“Great projects for a great city, projects that will continue to benefit the population in all aspects, based on the comprehensive mobility plan combined with technology,” Brugada told reporters, delivering the kind of sanitised soundbite that’s become the hallmark of modern football politics.
The stadium renovation forms part of a wider urban rejuvenation masterplan for the Tlalpan neighborhood, with substantial improvements to public infrastructure including upgraded roadways, additional cycling lanes, and enhanced public transportation networks.
Meanwhile, Mexico City is gearing up to host multiple fan events across its 16 boroughs, with the showpiece FIFA Fan Fest slated for the historic Zocalo square. These festivals promise free public screenings while promoting community engagement and physical activity – all wrapped in the convenient corporate packaging that has become synonymous with modern World Cup extravaganzas.
While the legendary Azteca name may soon be consigned to the history books, football fans of a certain vintage will never stop calling it by its proper name. And it’ll certainly be some time before ‘Estadio Ciudad de Mexico’ rolls off the tongue with the same reverence and romance that ‘Azteca’ has commanded for generations. Some traditions, no matter how inconvenient for the marketing department, simply refuse to die.
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