El Coloso de Santa Úrsula "The Colossus of Santa Úrsula" | |
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 Exterior view of the stadium | |
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| Former names | Estadio Azteca (1966–1997, 1999–2025) Estadio Guillermo Cañedo (1997–1998) |
|---|---|
| Location | Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Coordinates | 19°18′11″N99°09′02″W / 19.30306°N 99.15056°W /19.30306; -99.15056 |
| Public transit |  Estadio Azteca light rail station |
| Owner | Televisa |
| Operator | Ollamani, S.A.B.[1][2][3][4] |
| Executive suites | 856 |
| Capacity | 87,523[5] |
| Record attendance | Football: 119,853 (Mexico vsBrazil, 7 July 1968)[6] Boxing: 132,247 (Julio César Chávez vsGreg Haugen, 20 February 1993)[7] |
| Field size | 105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft) |
| Surface | Kikuyu Grass[8] |
| Scoreboard | Panasonic |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1961 |
| Opened | 29 May 1966 |
| Renovated | 1986, 1999, 2013 and 2016[9] |
| Construction cost | MXN$260 million |
| Architect | |
| Tenants | |
| Club América (1966–present) Cruz Azul (1971–1996, 2018–2023) Mexico national football team (1966–present) Necaxa (1966–1971, 1982–2003) Atlante (1966–1982, 1996–2001, 2004–2007) Atlético Español (1971–1982) | |
| Website | |
| estadiobanorte.com.mx | |
Estadio Azteca (Latin American Spanish:[esˈtaðjoasˈteka]) (officially known asEstadio Banorte for sponsorship reasons) is a football stadium located inCoyoacán, Mexico City.[10] It is the official home offootball teamClub América, as well as theMexico national team. The stadium sits at an altitude of 2,200 m (7,200 feet) above sea level.[11] With a capacity of 87,523, it is the largest stadium inLatin America and theeighth-largest association football stadium in the world.
Regarded as one of the most famous and iconic football stadiums in the world,[12][13][14][15][16] it is the first to have hosted twoFIFA World Cup finals;[17] the1970 World Cupfinal, whereBrazil defeatedItaly 4–1, and the1986 World Cupfinal, whereArgentina defeatedWest Germany 3–2. It also hostedthe 1986 quarter-final match between Argentina andEngland in whichDiego Maradona scored both the "Hand of God goal" and the "Goal of the Century". The Estadio Azteca is the only football stadium in the world to have bothPelé (1970) andDiego Maradona (1986) win the FIFA World Cup, both of whom are considered among the greatest football players of all time. The stadium also hosted the "Game of the Century", when Italy defeated West Germany 4–3 in extra time in one of the 1970 semifinal matches. The stadium was also the principal venue for thefootball tournament of the1968 Summer Olympics[18] and the1971 Women's World Cup.[19] The stadium is scheduled to host games during the2026 FIFA World Cup, including the opening game, making it the only stadium to host three editions of the FIFA World Cup.[20]
Additionally, theNational Football League (NFL) features one game at Estadio Azteca per season as a part of itsInternational Series.
The Estadio Azteca was envisioned as a major sports venue during the presidency ofAdolfo López Mateos, when Mexico was awarded the1968 Summer Olympics, where the football final was held. The stadium was designed by architectsPedro Ramírez Vázquez andRafael Mijares Alcérreca and broke ground in 1961. The inaugural match was betweenClub América andTorino F.C. on 29 May 1966, with a capacity for 107,494 spectators. The first goal was scored by BrazilianArlindo Dos Santos and the second one by BrazilianJosé Alves; later, the Italians tied the game, which ended in 2–2 draw. Mexican presidentGustavo Díaz Ordaz made the initial kick andFIFA presidentSir Stanley Rous was the witness.
A modern illumination system was inaugurated on 5 June 1966, with the first night game played between Spanish sideValencia C.F. andNecaxa. The first goal of the match was scored byHonduranJosé Cardona for Valencia. Roberto Martínez, aka Caña Brava, became the first Mexican to score a goal in the stadium after scoring for Necaxa. The result was a 3–1 victory for Valencia.
In 1978 the stadium hosted the final of theCopa Interamericana between América andBoca Juniors ofArgentina, and would host a final again in 1990 between América andClub Olimpia ofParaguay.
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The Estadio Azteca is also the site in whichPelé andDiego Maradona (during the1970 and1986 FIFA World Cup) lifted the trophy for the last time (TheJules Rimet Trophy and the currentFIFA World Cup Trophy, respectively).
Estadio Azteca has also been used for musical performances throughout its history.Michael Jackson (5 sold-out shows in 1993),[21]Menudo (in 1983),U2 (in 2006 and 2011),Luis Miguel (in 2002),Paul McCartney (in 2012 and 2017),Elton John,Maná,Juan Gabriel,Gloria Estefan,Jaguares,Lenny Kravitz,*Nsync,Hanson,Ana Gabriel, andThe Three Tenors all have become part of the stadium's main spectacle. The stadium has also been used for political events, including Mexican presidentFelipe Calderón's campaign closure in 2006, as well as religious events, such as Jehovah's Witnesses conventions and the appearance of PopeJohn Paul II in 1999.[22]
In April 2017, it was announced that starting July 2018,Cruz Azul would relocate to the Azteca on a temporary basis, due to the impending demolition of theEstadio Azul.[23]
The stadium is scheduled to host matches during the2026 FIFA World Cup, including the opening match, in a tournament to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will be the third time Azteca has hosted World Cup games; in1970 and1986, games also took place at the stadium.[24]
The stadium has undergone gradual improvements and renovations, including the replacing of seating within the stadium as well as the installation of electronic advertising boards. In May 2015, modernPanasonic LED panels were installed at the north and south ends of the stadium, replacing the phosphorous panels installed in 1998.[25]
In February 2015, a vast renovation plan was unveiled with the intention that the completion of the project coincide with the stadium's 50th anniversary and with Club América'scentenary in 2016, as well as the construction of a commercial hub outside the stadium to be completed some time in 2019. It was reported thatTelevisa, owners of the stadium, approved a joint-venture bid from private development firms IQ Real Estate and Alhel. The hub, named "Foro Azteca", would reportedly consist of a mall, office spaces, two hotels, new leisure spaces, and parking spaces for 2,500 cars.[9] The planned building of the hub was ultimately abandoned. The renovations to the stadium were planned in two phases: the first saw the demolition of the restaurant and seating at the lower east stand and the construction of a new hospitality area with dining and banqueting spaces, and the second saw the construction of new media boxes and private skyboxes at the upper west stand.[26][27] The renovations to the stadium were completed in November 2016, with the seating capacity ultimately reduced to 81,070.[28]
Mexico City was formally announced as a host city for the2026 FIFA World Cup in June 2020 whenFIFA announced the host cities for the tournament. Mexico City is one of three host cities in Mexico and is one of sixteen host cities overall for the tournament which is being staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico.[29] On 4 February 2024, it was revealed that the stadium would host the opening match of bothMexico and the tournament on 11 June 2026. In total, the stadium will host five matches: three group stage matches, one Round of 32 match, and one Round of 16 match, hosting four of Mexico's games if they win group A.[30]
In the lead-up to the tournament, the stadium will undergo further renovations, estimated to take about two years to complete.[31] The renovation will include refurbishing the stadium facade and installing LED lighting. The interior of the facility will also be updated, with new locker rooms to be built under the suites, along with a tunnel for the players. High-resolution LED screens will be installed throughout the stadium, and the seats in the stands will be replaced.[32]
The stadium's capacity will increase to 90,000 spectators, with one of the lower stands to be demolished for this purpose, and special lounges in the lower part of the stadium will be removed to provide more space in the stands.[33] The facade will also undergo a major overhaul, which will see 2000 square meters of LED screens installed. The stadium will also be structurally reinforced by building two large areas on the sides that will serve as bars. The roof will also be renovated, which has reportedly not been repaired for a long time and suffers from leaking.[33]
In addition to renovations of the stadium itself, works to the neighborhood were also proposed, however those plans were scaled down after residents of the surrounding area complained about the project.[34]
In March 2024, with the planned renovations being six months behind schedule, FIFA declared that the stadium did not pass their standards, putting the stadium's hosting in jeopardy.[35]
In March 2025, FIFA was accused byBuilding and Wood Workers' International labor union of not allowing their members to inspect safety regulations taking place during the renovations.[36]
The stadium is set to reopen on March 28, 2026, three months before the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[37]
The name "Azteca" is a tribute to theAztec heritage of Mexico City. The stadium is currently owned by Mexican multimedia conglomerateTelevisa. In January 1997, Televisa officially changed the stadium's name toEstadio Guillermo Cañedo, in tribute toGuillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena, a top network executive, formerMexican Football Federation president, and a prominent member of theFIFA executive committee who had died earlier that month.[38] After the change proved to be unpopular with the public,[39] Televisa returned to referring to it solely as Estadio Azteca.
The stadium is also referred to by the nickname"Coloso de Santa Úrsula" ("Colossus of Santa Ursula"), due to its large structure andSanta Úrsula referring to the suburb where the stadium is located.[40]
On 14 March 2025,Banorte bought thenaming rights to the stadium and renamed itEstadio Banorte which helped fund the renovations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[41] The name was immediately met with overwhelming negative reception.[42] During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium will be called "Estadio Ciudad de México" in accordance with FIFA's policy on corporate sponsored names.
It is served byEstadio Azteca station on theXochimilco Light Rail line. This line is an extension of theMexico City metro system which begins atMetro Tasqueña station and ends in the Xochimilco Light Rail Station.
Tickets are available up until kick-off times from the ticket office which is located at the front of the stadium, located towards the exit ramps from the Azteca station. Prices start from as little asMXN$100 (about US$5 as of 2016), and could cost up to MXN$500 (about US$26 as of 2016) for more high-profile matches.[43]
Acommemorative bronze plaque of the "Game of the Century" played betweenItaly andWest Germany, as well asDiego Maradona's "Goal of the Century" againstEngland.
There is also a commemorative plaque with the names of the first goal scorer in the inaugural match and in the first match played at night.
Estadio Azteca has hosted the FIFA World Cup on two occasions, hosting a total of nineteen FIFA World Cup matches overall. The stadium hosted ten matches during the1970 FIFA World Cup including thefinal. Sixteen years later the stadium hosted nine matches during the1986 FIFA World Cup, including thefinal which was the secondFIFA World Cup final to be played at the stadium. Estadio Azteca will host matches during the2026 FIFA World Cup (including the opening ceremony) which will make the stadium the only stadium to have hosted the FIFA World Cup on three occasions.
| Date | Time (UTC−6) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1970 | 12:00 |  Mexico | 0–0 |  Soviet Union | Group 1 | 107,160 |
| 3 June 1970 | 16:00 |  Belgium | 3–0 |  El Salvador | 92,205 | |
| 6 June 1970 | 16:00 | Soviet Union | 4–1 | Belgium | 95,261 | |
| 7 June 1970 | 12:00 | Mexico | 4–0 | El Salvador | 103,058 | |
| 10 June 1970 | 16:00 | Soviet Union | 2–0 | El Salvador | 89,979 | |
| 11 June 1970 | 16:00 | Mexico | 1–0 | Belgium | 108,192 | |
| 14 June 1970 | 12:00 | Soviet Union | 0–1 |  Uruguay | Quarter-finals | 26,085 |
| 17 June 1970 | 16:00 |  Italy | 4–3 |  West Germany | Semi-finals | 102,444 |
| 20 June 1970 | 16:00 | Uruguay | 0–1 | West Germany | 3rd place match | 104,403 |
| 21 June 1970 | 12:00 |  Brazil | 4–1 | Italy | Final | 107,412 |
| Date | Time (UTC−6) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 May 1986 | 12:00 |  Bulgaria | 1–1 | Italy | Group A | 96,000 |
| 3 June 1986 | 12:00 | Belgium | 1–2 | Mexico | Group B | 110,000 |
| 7 June 1986 | 12:00 | Mexico | 1–1 |  Paraguay | 114,600 | |
| 11 June 1986 | 12:00 |  Iraq | 0–1 | Mexico | 103,763 | |
| 15 June 1986 | 12:00 | Mexico | 2–0 | Bulgaria | Round of 16 | 114,560 |
| 18 June 1986 | 12:00 |  England | 3–0 | Paraguay | 98,728 | |
| 22 June 1986 | 12:00 |  Argentina | 2–1 | England | Quarter-finals | 114,580 |
| 25 June 1986 | 16:00 | Argentina | 2–0 | Belgium | Semi-finals | 114,500 |
| 29 June 1986 | 12:00 | Argentina | 3–2 | West Germany | Final | 114,600 |
| Date | Time (UTC−6) | Team #1 | Res. | Team #2 | Round | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 June 2026 | --:-- | Mexico | – | A2 | Group A | |
| 17 June 2026 | --:-- | TBD | – | TBD | Group K | |
| 24 June 2026 | --:-- | A4 | – | Mexico | Group A | |
| 30 June 2026 | --:-- | Winner Group A | – | 3rd Group C/E/F/H/I | Round of 32 | |
| 5 July 2026 | --:-- | Winner Match 79 | – | Winner Match 80 | Round of 16 |
| Date | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 August 1994 | Houston Oilers | 6–0 | Dallas Cowboys | 112,376 |
| 17 August 1998 | New England Patriots | 21–3 | Dallas Cowboys | - |
| 19 August 2000 | Indianapolis Colts | 24–23 | Pittsburgh Steelers | - |
| 19 August 2001 | Oakland Raiders | 6-21 | Dallas Cowboys | - |
| 2 October 2005 | San Francisco 49ers | 14–31 | Arizona Cardinals | 103,467 |
| 21 November 2016 | Houston Texans | 20–27 | Oakland Raiders | 76,473 |
| 19 November 2017 | New England Patriots | 33–8 | Oakland Raiders | 77,357 |
| 19 November 2018 | Kansas City Chiefs | 51–54 | Los Angeles Rams | (moved to Los Angeles; poor field conditions) |
| 18 November 2019 | Kansas City Chiefs | 24-17 | Los Angeles Chargers | 76,252 |
| 21 November 2022 | San Francisco 49ers | 38-10 | Arizona Cardinals | 78,427 |
| Date | Artist | Tour / concert name | Attendance | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 March 1983 | Menudo | — | 100,000 | — |
| 29 and 31 October 1993 7, 9 and 11 November 1993 | Michael Jackson | Dangerous World Tour | 550,000 | [53] |
| 15 February 1997 | Gloria Estefan | Evolution World Tour | — | |
| 21 December 1997 | Bronco (Mexican band) | El Adios a Bronco | - | |
| 16 June 2000 | Los Temerarios | — | 100,000 | [54] |
| 3 March 2001 | Maná andJaguares | "ChiaPaz: Unidos Por La Paz" | 104,000 | |
| 2 March 2002 | Luis Miguel | Mis Romances Tour | — | |
| 15 and 16 February 2006 | U2 | Vertigo Tour | 141,278 | |
| 6 November 2008 | Wisin & Yandel | Los Extraterrestres World Tour | 16,000 | |
| 1 April 2009 | Wisin & Yandel | Los Extraterrestres World Tour | 16,000 | |
| 11, 14 and 15 May 2011 | U2 | 360° Tour | 282,978 | |
| 8 May 2012 | Paul McCartney | On the Run | 53,080 | [55] |
| 16 April 2016 | Vicente Fernández | Un Azteca en el Azteca, Adiós a Un Grande | 100,000 | |
| 11 and 12 October 2018 | Shakira | El Dorado World Tour | 100,000 | |
| 3 December 2022 | Los Bukis | |||
| 9 and 10 December 2022 | Bad Bunny | World's Hottest Tour | 115,000 | |
| 21 December 2023 | RBD | Soy Rebelde Tour | 90,000 | [56] |
| 8, 9 and 10 February 2024 | Karol G | Mañana Será Bonito Tour | 140,795 | |
| 6 December 2025 | Marilyn Manson,Falling in Reverse,Slaughter to Prevail,Shinedown,While She Sleeps,Hanabie,Fit For an Autopsy |
The massive bowl, Estadio Azteca, sits in the southern part of this sprawling metropolis like a concrete sombrero. The stadium's mystique—especially its 105,000 spectators and its 7,200-foot altitude—will play an integral role Wednesday in a World Cup qualifying match between Mexico and the United States.
| Events and tenants | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Summer Olympics Men's football final 1968 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA World Cup Opening venue 1970 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Wembley Stadium London | FIFA World Cup Final venue 1970 | Succeeded by Olympiastadion Munich |
| Preceded by | FIFA World Cup Opening venue 1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA World Cup Final venue 1986 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | CONCACAF Gold Cup Final venue 1993 | Succeeded by Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles |
| Preceded by | FIFA Confederations Cup Final venue 1999 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | CONCACAF Gold Cup Final venue 2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA U-17 World Cup Final venue 2011 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | FIFA World Cup Opening venue 2026 | Succeeded by TBD TBD |
| National | |
|---|---|
| Geographic | |
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