The countdown to the 2026 World Cup continues, and the Estadio Azteca is undergoing a major transformation to meet FIFA‘s requirements. As part of the renovation, two iconic areas of the venue will be disabled, marking a significant change in the layout of the Coloso de Santa Úrsula.
THE AZTECA’S TRANSFORMATION TOWARD 2026 🔄🏗️
On January 27, the calendar marked 500 days before the start of the World Cup, an event where Mexico will play a key role as a host nation. To ensure that the Estadio Azteca meets international standards, modernization work has progressed with the removal of traditional spaces and the creation of new exclusive areas.
Since the last tournament, Club América stopped playing at the stadium to allow for these structural changes. Among the improvements, the construction of new dressing rooms is planned, along with the relocation of certain access areas and the adaptation of spaces for hospitality, a premium service for international attendees. 🏟️✨
WHICH AREAS WILL DISAPPEAR FROM THE ESTADIO AZTECA? 🚧⛔
According to information from Milenio, the areas that will be removed are:
🔹 VIP Area: Located in sections near the pitch, this section will disappear to make way for new spaces dedicated to hospitality fans.
🔹 Coca-Cola Lounge: This exclusive area will also be removed as part of the restructuring.
Additionally, a crucial change will occur in the dressing room location. Until now, they have been located at the south end, but with FIFA’s new requirements, they will be relocated to the center of the stadium, aligning with the infrastructure of the world’s most modern venues. 🌍⚽
PROGRESS AND PROJECT DELIVERY DATE 🏗️📅
The modifications are already noticeable:
✅ Removal of the grass for future renewal.
✅ Elimination of old benches and areas within the stadium.
✅ Start of space adjustments for new service areas.
The goal is for the work to be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026, ensuring that the Estadio Azteca is ready for the World Cup, which will kick off in June 2026. 🏆
With these changes, the iconic Mexican stadium is being modernized to remain a global football landmark. Although it bids farewell to two legendary areas, it is preparing to welcome thousands of fans for the biggest football celebration. What will the new Azteca look like? We will find out in the coming months. 🌎🏆🎉
THE AZTECA AND ITS MONUMENTAL HISTORY
This restructuring represents an investment in the greatness of Mexican football, but also a sacrifice of what many considered part of the stadium’s essence. It is essential that, in modernizing, we do not lose the connection to what makes this stadium unique: its passion, its people, and its history. However, the stadium’s future is more important than the memory of what is being left behind.
FIFA demands standards that ensure a world-class event, and the Azteca, with its monumental history, cannot afford to fall behind. ⚒️ As always, the Azteca has a tradition of surprising us, and we hope that this renovation will provide an even more imposing venue—one that never forgets its roots. 🙌✨
