Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium is a 15-kilometer journey from the Zócalo—more or less the center of the metropolis of 18 million inhabitants. The drive can take the 18 minutes predicted by Google Maps, but it can easily exceed an hour if you happen to be in the middle of what my driver calls “the peak,” the time when the city’s perpetual swarm of cars swells to bursting.

The first feeling on seeing the Coloso de Santa Úrsula— the nickname given to the stadium where both Pelé and Maradona played legendary games—is that of being in a place suspended between past and future. The venue’s seemingly immobile dinosaur skeleton exterior hides a vast work in progress as the whole stadium is being modernized for 2026 World Cup.

On March 26, 2026, a friendly match between Mexico and Portugal will serve as a dress rehearsal for the June 11 inaugural ceremony and subsequent first World Cup match.

How the Azteca Is Transformed

The icon of Mexican soccer is undergoing an unprecedented metamorphosis. Renovations to Azteca Stadium, essential to its status as a designated venue for five matches, are in their most critical and visible phase.

The goal is to modernize the Colossus to meet the most demanding international standards, improving the spectator experience and the functionality of the facility while maintaining its historic soul.

The current state is that of a construction site in full swing. The stands, completely empty and devoid of their signature signs and colors, reveal the gray of concrete and scaffolding. The empty bleachers, lit by the white lights of a construction site, are enlivened only by teams of technicians and engineers working day and night. The field, the heart of the stadium, is now a sea of dirt and mud, where heavy machinery works to level and reinstall the drainage system and put in the state-of-the-art hybrid surface that combines natural grass with advanced ventilation, drainage, and air injection systems.

The Architectural Design

The stadium may be new inside, but the outside is keeping its identifying features. The main structure of the stadium has only been strengthened, but not significantly altered. However, the upgrades do include some flash. The exterior will be embellished with LED banners mounted on the characteristic columns and cross beams that will enhance the appearance of the stadium and allow for colorful choreographed light shows.

From the field level, the biggest change is immediately noticeable: The new metal and glass ring roof is almost complete and will protect much of the stands. “We didn’t want to erase the original silhouette,” a team engineer explains, “but to update it with lighter materials that can better withstand the climate and integrate photovoltaic systems invisible to the naked eye.”

The project—by KMD Arquitectos in collaboration with Populous—completely renovates the electrical, water, and ventilation systems, and includes the installation of a smart energy management system. It also introduces new FIFA evacuation standards. While the official capacity of the Azteca is about 83,000, the renovations would take the facility closer to 90,000 seats, although neither the government nor FIFA has confirmed the final number. For sure, it will radically change the experience: individual ergonomic seats replace many of the old seats, increasing space and comfort for every spectator. Accessibility and sight lines for fans have been optimized thanks to a revised bleacher layout.

Symbolic Coverage

Populous, the firm responsible for the design of the new team benches and canopies, moved the entire technical production area from the west side to the east side to accommodate the World Cup’s many broadcasters and an updated field layout. Fans will notice the benches on the sidelines are partially buried below ground level, giving them an unobstructed view of the game.

The new canopies are inspired by the tessellation of the Telstar and Azteca balls from the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, echoing hexagonal and pentagonal motifs that immediately recall Mexican identity. Let us not forget that next year, Mexico City’s stadium will become the only venue in the world to have hosted three editions and three inaugural matches of the World Cup.

The cladding over the benches is made of ETFE, a lightweight plastic material that is highly resistant to corrosion and temperature variations. It’s transparent and stronger than glass, insulating the seats from the elements and allowing for even natural lighting. The new benches include automotive-style padded seats, data and power outlets, and a programmable LED lighting system that turns on in sync with goals or events on the field.

Latest High-Tech Touches

More than 23,000 square feet of LED screens will be installed inside and on the facade of the stadium, supported by 1,200 antennas for Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. The entire retail system will be cashless, there are new restrooms, and the sound systems throughout the venue have been improved.

The security system is getting 200 new cameras for monitoring and surveillance to protect spectators. Elevators and circulation routes have been improved, with accessibility upgrades for people with disabilities. New hospitality areas will cover more than 75,000 square feet, and food services, previously scarce inside the stadium, will be fully integrated. The press area will be moved to a corner and the new locker rooms will be located centrally, under the east stand, instead of in the current location behind one of the goals.

Reconstruction will also affect the stadium entrances, simplifying spectator access and outflow: Stairs and corridors have been widened, significantly improving pedestrian flow and reducing bottlenecks, a critical problem in the previous layout.

Finally, the work is not limited to the interior. The perimeter of Azteca Stadium is also teeming with activity. Road and pedestrian accesses are being reorganized and a large, modernized, and better planned parking lot is being built.

“The Azteca should not just be a stadium, but a place that the city feels is its own even on days without soccer,” says Mariana Torres, urban planner for the project. “The challenge is for regeneration not to become gentrification.”

The urban intervention, coordinated by the Mexico City government, will include new pedestrian areas, bike lanes, parking lots with electric charging stations, and shuttles to reduce traffic during events.

The goal is to cut transportation-related emissions by 30 percent on game days and transform the area into a new city hub. Green spaces, a multifunctional plaza with local restaurants and stores, and a year-round urban park will be created around the stadium.

During the weeks of the World Cup, the entire capital will be involved. “With the goal of making soccer an inclusive celebration, the Mexico City government will establish nineteen Fest Zones in all neighborhoods, where residents and visitors will be able to experience the passion of the World Cup for free,” says Alejandra Frausto, Mexico City’s secretary of tourism. At a presentation for the media, her team unveiled some of the details Mexico City has planned ahead of the tournament, including a large Museo del Futbol near the Azteca Stadium.