FIFA takes over Azteca stadium

FIFA has taken control of Mexico City's Estadio Banorte, the venue better known as Estadio Azteca, and is using the tournament name "Mexico City Stadium" ahead of the 2026 World Cup. FIFA's official World Cup schedule and host-city pages now list the ground under that neutral event title rather than its commercial or historic name. The move comes less than a month before the tournament opens on June 11 with Mexico playing South Africa in the capital. Banorte and Grupo Ollamani had renamed the stadium Estadio Banorte in March 2025 as part of a 2.1 billion peso financing and sponsorship deal tied to the venue's modernization. FIFA, which controls tournament branding and venue presentation during the World Cup, lists the stadium's address in Santa Úrsula Coapa and gives its World Cup capacity as 72,766. Mexico City is scheduled to host five matches at the venue. ### Why is FIFA calling Azteca "Mexico City Stadium"? FIFA's October 2025 stadium information page identifies the venue as "Mexico City Stadium" and gives the address as Calz. de Tlalpan 3465 in Coyoacán. FIFA's March 2026 match schedule and host-city pages use the same name for all World Cup fixtures in the capital. FIFA has used generic venue names across the 2026 tournament website, including Guadalajara Stadium and Monterrey Stadium in Mexico and similar city-based names in the United States and Canada. The naming convention aligns the venues with FIFA's event branding during the competition. ### What happened to the Banorte name? Banorte and Grupo Ollamani announced on March 14, 2025 that Estadio Azteca would become Estadio Banorte. The companies said the agreement included 2.1 billion pesos in financing, plus advertising and sponsorship components, to modernize the stadium before the World Cup. Carlos Hank González, chairman of Grupo Financiero Banorte, said at the time that the project would put the venue at the forefront of modernization and sustainability. Emilio Azcárraga Jean, chairman of Grupo Ollamani, said the work would preserve the stadium's essence while updating it for 2026. ### How many World Cup games will be played there? FIFA's host-city page says Mexico City will stage five matches at Mexico City Stadium. The first is Mexico against South Africa on June 11, the opening game of the tournament. FIFA's published schedule also lists Uzbekistan against Colombia on June 18, Czechia against Mexico on June 25, a round-of-32 match on July 1 and a round-of-16 match on July 6 at the same venue. FIFA has said the stadium will become the first to host matches at three men's World Cups. ### What work has been done at the stadium? Banorte and Grupo Ollamani said in 2025 that the financing would support a broader modernization of the venue. The companies described plans centered on connectivity, sustainability and upgrades to the fan experience. The Associated Press reported in September 2025 that the renovation included a hybrid field, updated locker rooms, elevators and hospitality areas. AP also reported that the stadium had an 83,000-seat configuration outside the World Cup setup, while FIFA's tournament capacity listing is lower at 72,766 because of event configuration. ### Did FIFA's takeover affect box owners? AP reported in May 2024 that FIFA wanted full control of World Cup stadiums 30 days before the first match and seven days after the last, including luxury boxes. That demand triggered a dispute at Azteca, where some private box owners said contracts dating to the 1960s gave them access rights for 99 years. Felix Aguirre, the stadium director, said in September 2025 that the dispute had been resolved and box owners would be able to use their suites during the 2026 World Cup without extra payment, according to AP. Aguirre said Ollamani would pay FIFA the cost of those boxes, though he did not disclose the amount. June 11 is the next milestone at the venue, when Mexico opens the 2026 World Cup against South Africa at Mexico City Stadium, according to FIFA's published schedule. FIFA lists four additional matches there through July 6, including knockout games in the round of 32 and round of 16.