Formation and mark
If you build it, they will come" is a quote revised from the fantasy sports film Field of Dreams, which has long been a source of inspiration for the entrepreneurial spirit. This famous 1989 saying is particularly relevant to Azteca Stadium in Mexico City - a magnificent stadium formed in the late 1950s.
Driven by the President of the Mexican Football Association, Guillermo Canedo, Azteca is planned as the home stadium of Club America and a "bait" to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup.
Mexico not only wants to host the World Cup - we want the most wonderful World Cup the world has ever seen" - Canedo once explained.
When Azteca was given the green light, the project was given to architect, urban planner and also a die-hard football fan, Pedro Ramírez Vazquez. Vazquez then, along with his colleague Rafael Mijares Alcerreca, took a journey to visit stadiums around the world. Although the goal was scale and modernity, they were inspired by the construction site itself. Located in the Santa Ursula Coapa neighborhood of Coyoacan district, this site is among the many areas devastated by El Xitle - the volcano that erupted for 70 years in the 3rd and 4th centuries. The last lava flows turned into pedregal - landscapes covered by thick volcanic rocks.
A team of 800 workers took nearly 1 year to relocate 180 million kilograms of basalt from the site before construction could begin in 1962. With a majestic appearance rising from the ground like a mountain, Azteca was inaugurated in 1966 in front of 170,000 fans.
When Mexico City welcomed the 1968 Summer Olympics, Azteca was the venue for the men's football final.
2 years later, Canedo's dream came true when Azteca welcomed the 1970 World Cup. In addition to the "Match of the Century" voted by FIFA - the semi-final Italy defeated West Germany with 5 out of 7 goals scored in extra time - the tournament also witnessed the icon Pele win the World Cup for the third time.
When the World Cup returned to Azteca in 1986, Mexico became the first country to host the event twice. If Pele was the "king" in 1970, then Diego Maradona captured all the attention in 86 with 2 imprints - "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century" in the quarter-final match against England.
Third time in history
Although the US hosts most of the matches, Mexico is the starting point of the 2026 World Cup.Therefore, another historical milestone of Azteca will come on June 11, when the Mexican team meets South Africa.
To prepare for this year's tournament, the 60-year-old Azteca has been comprehensively renovated to meet FIFA standards.In addition to increasing the capacity to 87,500 seats, the pitch has also been newly upgraded, a sound system with 250 speakers, LED screens, a modern dressing room, a VIP service area and 200 security cameras.
From 2024, Azteca stadium has been renovated with part funding from Banorte bank - the unit that bought the stadium naming rights.However, because FIFA bans commercial names at venues, the stadium will temporarily change its name to Ciudad de México instead of Estadio Banorte.However, local fans are still familiar with calling it Azteca, or with nicknames such as "Football Temple" and "Giant Saint Ursula".Live tickets for matches at Azteca are very scarce and expensive.Therefore, according to the "La Pelota Vuelva a Casa" campaign launched by Mayor Clara Brugada, the World Cup will not only take place in stadiums, but also spread to 16 districts of the city through free festival areas, large screens, concerts, sports activities and local cuisine.
