Estadio Azteca (Latin American Spanish: [esˈtaðjo asˈteka]) is a football stadium located in Mexico City.^[10] It is the official home of football team Club América, as well as the Mexico national team. The stadium sits at an altitude of 2,200 m (7,200 feet) above sea level.^[11] With a capacity of 87,523, it is the largest stadium in Latin America and the eighth-largest association football stadium in the world.

Quick Facts Former names, Location ...

Estadio Azteca
Azteca Stadium

El Coloso de Santa Úrsula "The Colossus of Santa Úrsula"
Stadium's interior
Former names	Estadio Guillermo Cañedo (1997–1998)
Location	Coyoacan, Mexico City
Coordinates	19°18′11″N 99°09′02″W
Public transit	Xochimilco Light Rail
Owner	Televisa
Operator	Ollamani, S.A.B.[1][2][3][4]
Executive suites	856
Capacity	87,523[5]
Record attendance	Football: 119,853 (Mexico vs Brazil, 7 July 1968)[6] Boxing: 132,247 (Julio César Chávez vs Greg Haugen, 20 February 1993)[7]
Field size	105 m × 68 m (344 ft × 223 ft)
Surface	Kikuyu Grass[8]
Scoreboard	Panasonic
Construction
Broke ground	1961
Opened	29 May 1966
Renovated	1986, 1999, 2013 and 2016[9]
Construction cost	MXN$260 million
Architect	Pedro Ramírez Vázquez Rafael Mijares Alcérreca
Tenants
Club América (1966–present) Cruz Azul (1971–1996, 2018–2023) Mexico national football team (1966–present) Necaxa (1966–1971, 1982–2003) Atlante (1966–1982, 1996–2001, 2004–2007) UNAM (1967–1969) Atlético Español (1971–1982)
Website
estadioazteca.com.mx

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Regarded as one of the most famous and iconic football stadiums in the world,^{[12][13][14][15][16]} it is the first to have hosted two FIFA World Cup finals;^[17] the 1970 World Cup Final, where Brazil defeated Italy 4–1, and the 1986 World Cup Final, where Argentina defeated West Germany 3–2. It also hosted the 1986 quarter-final match between Argentina and England in which Diego Maradona scored both the "Hand of God goal" and the "Goal of the Century". The Estadio Azteca is the only football stadium in the world to have both Pelé (1970) and Diego Maradona (1986) win the FIFA World Cup, both of whom are considered among the greatest football players of all time. The stadium also hosted the "Game of the Century", when Italy defeated West Germany 4–3 in extra time in one of the 1970 semifinal matches. The stadium was also the principal venue for the football tournament of the 1968 Summer Olympics^[18] and the 1971 Women's World Cup.^[19] The stadium is scheduled to host games during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the opening game, making it the only stadium to host three editions of the FIFA World Cup.^[20]

Additionally, the National Football League (NFL) features one game at Estadio Azteca per season as a part of its International Series.

The Estadio Azteca was envisioned as a major sports venue during the presidency of Adolfo López Mateos, when Mexico was awarded the 1968 Summer Olympics, where the football final was held. The stadium was designed by architects Pedro Ramírez Vázquez and Rafael Mijares Alcérreca and broke ground in 1961. The inaugural match was between Club América and Torino F.C. on 29 May 1966, with a capacity for 107,494 spectators. The first goal was scored by Brazilian Arlindo Dos Santos and the second one by Brazilian José Alves; later, the Italians tied the game, which ended in 2–2 draw. Mexican president Gustavo Díaz Ordaz made the initial kick and FIFA president Sir Stanley Rous was the witness.

A modern illumination system was inaugurated on 5 June 1966, with the first night game played between Spanish side Valencia C.F. and Necaxa. The first goal of the match was scored by Honduran José Cardona for Valencia. Roberto Martínez, aka Caña Brava, became the first Mexican to score a goal in the stadium after scoring for Necaxa. The result was a 3–1 victory for Valencia.

In 1978 the stadium hosted the final of the Copa Interamericana between América and Boca Juniors of Argentina, and would host a final again in 1990 between América and Club Olimpia of Paraguay.

The Estadio Azteca is also the site in which Pelé and Diego Maradona (during the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cup) lifted the trophy for the last time (The Jules Rimet Trophy and the current FIFA World Cup Trophy, respectively).

Estadio Azteca has also been used for musical performances throughout its history. Michael Jackson (5 sold-out shows in 1993),^[21] Menudo (in 1983), U2 (in 2006 and 2011), Luis Miguel (in 2002), Paul McCartney (in 2012 and 2017), Elton John, Maná, Juan Gabriel, Gloria Estefan, Jaguares, Lenny Kravitz, *Nsync, Hanson, Ana Gabriel, and The Three Tenors all have become part of the stadium's main spectacle. The stadium has also been used for political events, including Mexican president Felipe Calderón's campaign closure in 2006, as well as religious events, such as Jehovah's Witnesses conventions and the appearance of Pope John Paul II in 1999.^[22]

In April 2017, it was announced that starting July 2018, Cruz Azul would relocate to the Azteca on a temporary basis, due to the impending demolition of the Estadio Azul.^[23]

The stadium is scheduled to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the opening match, in a tournament to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It will be the third time Azteca has hosted World Cup games; in 1970 and 1986, games also took place at the stadium.^[24]

The name "Azteca" is a tribute to the Aztec heritage of Mexico City. The stadium is currently owned by Mexican multimedia conglomerate Televisa. In January 1997, Televisa officially changed the stadium's name to Estadio Guillermo Cañedo, in tribute to Guillermo Cañedo de la Bárcena, a top network executive, former Mexican Football Federation president, and a prominent member of the FIFA executive committee who had died earlier that month.^[28] After the change proved to be unpopular with the public,^[29] Televisa returned to referring to it solely as Estadio Azteca.

The stadium is also referred to by the nickname "Coloso de Santa Úrsula" ("Colossus of Santa Ursula"), due to its large structure and Santa Úrsula referring to the suburb where the stadium is located.^[30]

It is served by the Azteca station on the Xochimilco Light Rail line. This line is an extension of the Mexico City metro system which begins at Metro Tasqueña station and ends in the Xochimilco Light Rail Station.

Tickets are available up until kick-off times from the ticket office which is located at the front of the stadium, located towards the exit ramps from the Azteca station. Prices start from as little as MXN$100 (about US$5 as of 2016), and could cost up to MXN$500 (about US$26 as of 2016) for more high-profile matches.^[31]

A commemorative bronze plaque of the "Game of the Century" played between Italy and West Germany, as well as Diego Maradona's "Goal of the Century" against England.

There is also a commemorative plaque with the names of the first goal scorer in the inaugural match and in the first match played at night.

• List of football stadiums in Mexico
• List of association football stadiums by capacity
• Lists of stadiums