Mexico’s historic Azteca Stadium to kickoff World Cup opener: All to know
Key takeaways
- Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca will become the first venue to host matches at three separate World Cups.
- “There’s just something very special about the Azteca,” said Pele. “You need to be inside it, to feel it to understand.
- The Brazilian legend enjoyed one of the finest moments of his career in Estadio Azteca, as he lifted his third World Cup in the towering stadium in Mexico’s sprawling capital.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca will become the first venue to host matches at three separate World Cups.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Estadio Azteca will host the opening game of World Cup 2026 as cohosts Mexico face South Africa on Thursday [VCG/VCG via Getty Images]By Adam Hancock, Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 11 Jun 202611 Jun 2026You can follow the action on Al Jazeera’s dedicated World Cup 2026 page with all the latest news, match build-up and live text commentary, and keep up to date with group standings, real-time match results and schedules.
“There’s just something very special about the Azteca,” said Pele. “You need to be inside it, to feel it to understand. It’s unique.”