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Mexico City Estadio Azteca is located 15 kilometers from the Zocalo, the center of the city with a population of approximately 18 million. The trip can take the 18 minutes that Google Maps expects, but it can easily exceed an hour if you’re in the middle of what drivers call “peak,” a time when the city’s ever-present swarm of cars swells to bursting point.
The first feeling when seeing Colosso di Santa Ursula – the nickname given to the stadium where Pele and Maradona played legendary matches – is the feeling of being in a place suspended between the past and the future. The stadium’s seemingly immobile dinosaur exterior hides a massive work in progress as the entire stadium is upgraded for the 2026 World Cup.
On 26 March 2026, the friendly match between Mexico and Portugal will serve as a dress rehearsal for the opening ceremony on 11 June and the subsequent first match of the World Cup.
How are the Azteca converted?
A Mexican football icon is undergoing an unprecedented transformation. The renovation work at the Azteca Stadium, essential to its status as a five-match stadium, is now in its most important and visible phase.
The goal is to update the giant to meet the most demanding requirements International standardsand improve the spectator experience and facility functionality while preserving its historic spirit.
The current situation is the construction site is in full swing. The terraces, completely empty and devoid of their distinctive markings and colours, reveal the gray of the concrete and scaffolding. The empty stands, lit by the white lights of a construction site, are only brought to life by teams of technicians and engineers working day and night. The stadium, the heart of the stadium, was transformed into a sea of dirt and mud, as heavy machinery worked on leveling and reinstalling the drainage system and laying an advanced hybrid surface that combines natural grass with advanced ventilation, drainage and air injection systems.
Architectural design
The stadium may be new on the inside, but the outside retains its distinctive features. Only the main structure of the stadium was strengthened, but not significantly changed. However, the upgrades include some flash. The exterior will be decorated with LED signage mounted on the distinctive columns and cross beams that will enhance the appearance of the stadium and allow for colorful light shows.
From field level, the biggest change is immediately noticeable: the new circular metal and glass roof is almost complete and will protect most of the stands. “We did not want to erase the original silhouette, but update it with lighter materials that can better withstand the climate and integrate photovoltaic systems that are not visible to the naked eye,” explains one of the team’s engineers.
The project – carried out by KMD Arquitectos in collaboration with Populous – completely renovates the electricity, water and ventilation systems, and includes the installation of an intelligent energy management system. It also introduces new FIFA clearance standards. While the official capacity of the Azteca Stadium is around 83,000 seats, the renovations will bring the facility closer to 90,000 seats, although neither the government nor FIFA have confirmed the final figure. It is sure to radically change the experience: comfortable individual seats replace many of the old seats, increasing space and comfort for every spectator. Accessibility and sightlines for fans have been improved thanks to the revised grandstand layout.