NEITHER WEMBLEY NOR THE MARACANÁ. THE AZTECA STADIUM WILL NEVER BE EQUALED.

6 Jan | World Cup 2026 | Alejandro Orvañanos

As expected, nothing is enough for certain fans and colleagues in this country. The announcement of the World Cup in 2026 left – surprisingly – some complaints regarding the number of matches that will be played on Mexican soil.

It was well known, from the beginning, that this World Cup would be played mostly in the United States. What’s more, you don’t have to go that far. The World Cup is from the United States and they have shared a little about their event with Canada and Mexico. As is well.

We must not fool ourselves, today our country is far from being able to organize an event of this magnitude. Beyond the stadiums, not even in the best of dreams could Mexico host a World Cup with 48 teams and organize 104 matches.

Security, infrastructure, connectivity, and most importantly; economy. There are many other priorities before organizing a football tournament.

They say that, for free, even the kicks. And it is not that the 13 games that the Azteca Stadium, Akron and BBVA will receive are “free”, but it was thanks to good management by the managers that began from Yon de Luisa to Juan Carlos Rodríguez, that Mexico will have part of a world without making a large investment that would mortgage the country as happened at the time with Brazil.

It is no small thing that on the first day of World Cup activity, the one for which fans wait 4 long years (this time it will be three and a half), the eyes of the world are only on Aztec territory.

If you are young, I am sure you were waiting for the opening match between Russia and Saudi Arabia in 2018. You were also the first to wake up to turn on the television and enjoy Qatar against Ecuador in 2022. How can we forget that great goal by Philipp Lahm in the inaugural match between Germany vs Costa Rica in 2006? And what can we say about Rafa Márquez’s goal against the noisy vuvuzelas in South Africa 2010.

What do I mean? The opening match of a World Cup is never forgotten, even when your team is not present. It is, along with the final, the match that everyone schedules from the beginning. Now let’s imagine that the Azteca Stadium will host a game of this magnitude for the third time in its history. Unbeatable.

There will be 13 games in our country; 10 in the regular phase and 3 in the final phase. Would 20 or 30 meetings have been better? Sure, but that’s what it took, and to what extent it was achieved.

Juan Carlos Rodríguez, Commissioner of the FMF, announced that, if they advance first in the group, the Mexican team would play the round of 16 and round of 8 matches in our country. That is to say, if Jaime Lozano’s men advance, there would be 5 games at home and in complete locality. Perhaps it is early to judge that this will probably not be repeated in the next 30 years or more.

Well, despite all this, there are outraged fans and colleagues who complain about the treatment of our country by the organizers. Just as there are those who claim that the Azteca Stadium is already old and is not in condition for a World Cup event.

Lusail in Qatar, Luzhniki in Russia, or Soccer City in Johannesburg. All of them with cutting-edge technology, comfortable, and spectacular designs. But there is something that very few stadiums in the world have, and not even the best architect in the world can give it to you. History is not cemented or bought. The story is slowly built as the most relevant moments happen in that same place.

Impossible to understand football without the goal of the century Diego Armando Maradona Much less without the famous ‘hand of God’. For some, older people, the third world title of Pelé It is, perhaps, the most important moment in the history of the World Cups.

Neither Wembley, nor the Maracaná. Only one stadium can boast of having seen the two best footballers in the history of this sport consecrate themselves and that is the Estadio Azteca.

The stands, the hallways, the goals, the columns. Every corner of the mythical Colossus of Santa Úrsula has a story to tell and there are still several more to come.

It is true, the 58 years have not passed in vain and despite the multiple renovations, the property today looks old and not ready for an event of this magnitude. The remodeling is about to begin and rest assured that it will be ready and in great condition for its historic event on June 11, 2026.

It is strange that Mexican soccer gives us reasons to celebrate. Historically, failures and bad decisions are the daily bread (except for rare moments of glory that have been enough to maintain the enthusiasm and excitement of the Mexican people).

This time it is another exception. Another one of those positive news that we must applaud and celebrate. Mexico will be, for the third time in its history, a World Cup country. Many or few games, but the Mexican fan will once again experience the excitement of a World Cup.

The work on the desktop is done. The work on the stands will be done. Now there is only one small detail missing. Will the work on the field also be there?

The excitement starts today, bet on the best sporting events and enjoy the world soccer stars that we will see in Mexico in 2026.

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ALEJANDRO ORVAÑANOS