Mexico City, June.10 (SANA) The historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City prepares to make history in world football tomorrow, Thursday, when it hosts the opening match of the2026 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first stadium in the world to have the honor of hosting three World Cup opening matches.
This iconic stadium, which opened in 1966 and has a capacity of 83,000 spectators, was chosen to kick off the largest edition of the tournament in history, which will feature 48 teams for the first time and include 104 matches spread across 16 host cities in three countries; Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The stadium boasts an exceptional footballing heritage, having witnessed the finals and opening matches of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups. Its green grass has been graced by the brilliance of football legends and giants throughout history, most notably the late Brazilian Pelé and the late Argentinian Diego Maradona.
The Mexican national team will have the advantage of playing its three group stage matches at home in front of its fans, as the stadiums in Guadalajara and Monterrey, along with the capital’s stadium, have been designated to host the country’s first-round matches.
Mexico City is a vital political, cultural, and financial center, the most populous city in North America, and the largest Spanish-speaking metropolis in the world. Its cultural heritage dates back to 1325 when it was founded as the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan in the Valley of Mexico, above the former Lake Texcoco.
Mazen
