Estadio Azteca facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Estadio Azteca
Aztec Stadium

El Coloso de Santa Úrsula "The Colossus of Santa Úrsula"
Exterior view of the stadium
Former names	Estadio Azteca (1966–1997, 1999–2025) Estadio Guillermo Cañedo (1997–1998)
Location	Coyoacán, Mexico City
Coordinates	19°18′11″N 99°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.
Executive suites	856
Capacity	87,523
Record attendance	Football: 119,853 (Mexico vs Brazil, 7 July 1968) Boxing: 132,247 (Julio César Chávez vs Greg Haugen, 20 February 1993)
Field size	105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
Surface	Kikuyu Grass
Scoreboard	Panasonic
Construction
Broke ground	1961
Opened	29 May 1966
Renovated	1986, 1999, 2013 and 2016
Construction cost	MXN$260 million
Architect	Pedro Ramírez Vázquez Rafael Mijares Alcérreca
Tenants
Club América (1966–2024) Cruz Azul (1971–1996, 2018–2023) Mexico national football team (1966–present) Necaxa (1966–1971, 1982–2003) Atlante (1966–1982, 1996–2001, 2004–2007) UNAM (1967–1969) Atlético Español (1971–1982) C.D. Guadalajara (2010 Copa Libertadores)

The Estadio Azteca (also known as Estadio Banorte for sponsorship reasons) is a famous football stadium in Mexico City. It is the home stadium for the Club América football team and the Mexican national team. The stadium is very high up, about 2,195 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level.

With space for 87,523 fans, it is the biggest stadium in Latin America. It is also one of the largest football stadiums in the world. Many people consider it one of the most important football stadiums ever.

Estadio Azteca is the only stadium to have hosted two FIFA World Cup finals. The first was in 1970, when Brazil won against Italy. The second was in 1986, when Argentina beat West Germany. Famous players like Pelé (in 1970) and Diego Maradona (in 1986) both won the World Cup here. These two players are often called the greatest of all time.

The stadium also saw Maradona score two famous goals in 1986: the "Hand of God goal" and the "Goal of the Century". Another famous match, called the "Game of the Century", happened here in 1970. Italy won against West Germany in extra time.

Estadio Azteca has also hosted the football games for the 1968 Summer Olympics. It will host games again for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the opening match. This will make it the only stadium to host three World Cups! Besides football, the National Football League (NFL) sometimes plays games here as part of its International Series.

History of Estadio Azteca

Spectators outside the Azteca during the 1986 FIFA World Cup

The idea for Estadio Azteca came about when Mexico was chosen to host the 1968 Summer Olympics. Architects Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and Rafael Mijares Alcérreca designed the stadium. Construction began in 1961.

The stadium first opened on May 29, 1966. The first game was between Club América and Torino F.C., ending in a 2–2 tie. Brazilian player Arlindo Dos Santos scored the first goal. A special lighting system was turned on for the first night game on June 5, 1966.

Over the years, the stadium has hosted many important football matches. It was the place where Pelé and Diego Maradona lifted their World Cup trophies.

Other Events at the Stadium

Interior of the stadium before a match in 2011

Estadio Azteca is not just for sports. Many famous musicians have performed here. These include Michael Jackson, U2, Paul McCartney, and Luis Miguel. It has also been used for important public gatherings, like religious events. For example, Pope John Paul II visited the stadium in 1999.

In 2017, the football team Cruz Azul moved to the Azteca temporarily. This was because their old stadium was going to be taken down.

Stadium Upgrades and the 2026 World Cup

Bench area and side stand

The stadium has been updated many times. Between 2015 and 2019, new seats were added, and modern LED screens were installed. These changes made the stadium even better for fans.

Mexico City was chosen as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June 2020. Estadio Azteca will host five matches, including the opening game on June 11, 2026. This is a big deal because it will be the third time the stadium hosts World Cup games.

To get ready for the 2026 World Cup, the stadium is undergoing more renovations. These include updating the outside of the stadium and adding new LED lights. The inside will also get new locker rooms and better seating. The goal is to increase the stadium's capacity to 90,000 fans. These renovations are expected to finish by March 28, 2026.

Stadium Name and Nicknames

Estadio Azteca before a game

The name "Azteca" honors the Aztec history of Mexico City. The stadium is owned by a Mexican company called Televisa. For a short time in 1997, it was called "Estadio Guillermo Cañedo" to honor a sports executive. However, fans did not like the change, so the name went back to Estadio Azteca.

The stadium is also known as "Coloso de Santa Úrsula" (which means "Colossus of Santa Ursula"). This nickname comes from its huge size and the area where it is located.

In March 2025, a company called Banorte bought the rights to name the stadium. It was renamed Estadio Banorte. This money helps pay for the renovations for the 2026 World Cup. During the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the stadium will be called "Estadio Ciudad de México" because of FIFA's rules about sponsored names.

Getting to the Stadium

You can easily get to Estadio Azteca by public transport. The Estadio Azteca light rail station is right there. This light rail line connects to the Mexico City metro system.

Tickets for games can be bought at the stadium's ticket office. Prices can be as low as MXN$100 (about US$5) for some matches. More popular games might cost up to MXN$500 (about US$26).

A panorama of Estadio Azteca during a Club América match (Mexico City) vs Tecos (Guadalajara)

Special Plaques and Memories

Plaque remembering the "Game of the Century"

There are special plaques at the stadium. One bronze plaque remembers the "Game of the Century" between Italy and West Germany. It also honors Diego Maradona's "Goal of the Century" against England.

Another plaque lists the names of the first players to score goals in the stadium's opening game and its first night game.

Major Events Hosted

FIFA World Cups at Estadio Azteca

Pelé (top), and Diego Maradona (bottom), celebrate winning the FIFA World Cup at the stadium

Estadio Azteca has hosted the FIFA World Cup twice before. It held ten matches during the 1970 FIFA World Cup, including the final. Sixteen years later, it hosted nine matches during the 1986 FIFA World Cup, including its second final. The stadium is set to host matches again during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This will make it the only stadium in the world to host the World Cup three times!

1970 FIFA World Cup Matches

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

1986 FIFA World Cup Matches

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

2026 FIFA World Cup Matches

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

Other Football Events

• 1968 Summer Olympics
• 1971 Women's World Cup
• 1975 Pan American Games
• 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup
• 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup
• 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup

American Football Games

Estadio Azteca has also hosted exciting American football games.

• In 1994, an American Bowl game between the Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys had 112,376 fans. This was a record for an NFL game!
• In 2005, the first international regular-season NFL game was played here. The Arizona Cardinals beat the San Francisco 49ers.
• Since 2016, the NFL has hosted several "NFL Mexico Games" at the stadium.

Concerts and Other Performances

Other Notable Events

• In 2014, a public funeral service for the popular Mexican comedian Roberto Gomez "Chespirito" Bolaños was held at Azteca. About 40,000 people attended to honor him.

See also

In Spanish: Estadio Azteca para niños

• List of football stadiums in Mexico
• List of association football stadiums by capacity
• Lists of stadiums