Mexico Metropolis’s Azteca Stadium is a 15-kilometer journey from the Zócalo—kind of the middle of the metropolis of 18 million inhabitants. The drive can take the 18 minutes predicted by Google Maps, however it could possibly simply exceed an hour in case you occur to be in the midst of what my driver calls “the peak,” the time when the town’s perpetual swarm of vehicles swells to bursting.
The primary feeling on seeing the Coloso de Santa Úrsula— the nickname given to the stadium the place each Pelé and Maradona performed legendary video games—is that of being in a spot suspended between previous and future. The venue’s seemingly motionless dinosaur skeleton exterior hides an unlimited work in progress as the entire stadium is being modernized for 2026 World Cup.
On March 26, 2026, a pleasant match between Mexico and Portugal will function a costume rehearsal for the June 11 inaugural ceremony and subsequent first World Cup match.
How the Azteca Is Reworked
Azteca Stadium because it appears to be like in the present day with work in progress.
Foto: Gabriele Nava
The icon of Mexican soccer is present process an unprecedented metamorphosis. Renovations to Azteca Stadium, important to its standing as a delegated venue for 5 matches, are of their most important and visual part.
The aim is to modernize the Colossus to satisfy probably the most demanding worldwide requirements, bettering the spectator expertise and the performance of the ability whereas sustaining its historic soul.
The present state is that of a building web site in full swing. The stands, utterly empty and devoid of their signature indicators and colours, reveal the grey of concrete and scaffolding. The empty bleachers, lit by the white lights of a building web site, are enlivened solely by groups of technicians and engineers working day and night time. The sphere, the center of the stadium, is now a sea of dust and dust, the place heavy equipment works to stage and reinstall the drainage system and put within the state-of-the-art hybrid floor that mixes pure grass with superior air flow, drainage, and air injection programs.
The principle construction of the stadium was solely strengthened whereas protecting its iconic form intact.
Foto: Gruppo Reforma
The Architectural Design
The stadium could also be new inside, however the outdoors is protecting its figuring out options. The principle construction of the stadium has solely been strengthened, however not considerably altered. Nonetheless, the upgrades do embody some flash. The outside might be embellished with LED banners mounted on the attribute columns and cross beams that can improve the looks of the stadium and permit for colourful choreographed gentle exhibits.
From the sphere stage, the largest change is instantly noticeable: The brand new steel and glass ring roof is sort of full and can shield a lot of the stands. “We didn’t want to erase the original silhouette,” a staff engineer explains, “but to update it with lighter materials that can better withstand the climate and integrate photovoltaic systems invisible to the naked eye.”
The undertaking—by KMD Arquitectos in collaboration with Populous—utterly renovates {the electrical}, water, and air flow programs, and contains the set up of a wise power administration system. It additionally introduces new FIFA evacuation requirements. Whereas the official capability of the Azteca is about 83,000, the renovations would take the ability nearer to 90,000 seats, though neither the federal government nor FIFA has confirmed the ultimate quantity. For positive, it’ll seriously change the expertise: particular person ergonomic seats substitute lots of the previous seats, rising area and luxury for each spectator. Accessibility and sight traces for followers have been optimized due to a revised bleacher format.
