Estadio Azteca renamed Mexico City Stadium for 2026 World Cup

Mexico City's Estadio Azteca, a historic venue that hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, has undergone a temporary name change for the 2026 tournament. FIFA formally received control of the stadium on May 14, and it will be known as Estadio Ciudad de México (Mexico City Stadium) during the World Cup.

Name change and sponsorship deal

The venue was previously renamed Estadio Banorte in 2022 as part of a naming rights agreement with the Mexican bank Banorte, which provided a 2.1 billion peso (approximately $105 million) loan to fund renovations. However, FIFA prohibits corporate-sponsored names for its events, so the stadium will revert to a non-commercial name for the 2026 World Cup.

The administrative handover was delayed by two days to allow Cruz Azul to host a Liga MX playoff match against Pumas UNAM, with special permission from FIFA.

Renovations and capacity

The nearly two-year renovation project increased seating capacity to 87,500. Upgrades include new hybrid turf, a 250-speaker sound system, LED video screens, upgraded locker rooms, VIP hospitality zones, and 200 security cameras.

The stadium, inaugurated on May 29, 1966, will become the first in football history to host three different FIFA World Cups (1970, 1986, and 2026).