00:05Mexico City is the fifth largest metropolitan area by population in the world.
00:14Over 20 million people call the capital of Mexico home,
00:19and most of them are football crazy.
00:26For a record third time, the capitalinos will get to experience a World Cup on their doorstep.
00:32When the 2026 tournament kicks off at the Estadio Azteca on June 11,
00:37Mexico City will break new ground.
00:41The Azteca welcomed the world for the first time in 1970,
00:46providing the backdrop for Pele to exit the international game at the highest level,
00:50with the third winner's medal.
00:54The following year, the second unofficial women's World Cup final took place,
00:58with Denmark beating the hosts 3-0 in front of a crowd of 110,000.
01:06Then in 1986, the Azteca provided the stage upon which Diego Maradona would enthrall the world
01:12and scored two of the competition's most memorable goals in the quarter-final,
01:17before lifting the World Cup trophy there 11 days later.
01:27Mexico will be an exceptional host for the World Cup, the third World Cup in Mexico,
01:32the third World Cup opening game in the Azteca Stadium after 1970 and 1986, and now in 2026.
01:45The Azteca Stadium, it isn't a stadium, it's a temple for football.
01:50For Mexican football, of course, for North American football, and for global football.
01:55Players like Pele Maradona won World Cups there.
01:59They played incredibly well in some of the most memorable matches in the history of football.
02:11And truly, that's why we're happy to kick off this World Cup on the 11th of June in the Azteca
02:16Stadium,
02:17and then have other matches in Monterrey, Guadalajara, because Mexico is football,
02:22and the people who are going to come to Mexico for this World Cup will have a fantastic time.
02:36The Azteca is known commercially as Estadio Bañote,
02:40and will be officially named Mexico City Stadium during the 2026 World Cup.
02:48As well as the opening match of the tournament, the stadium will host five fixtures,
02:53three group stage matches, one round of 32 clash, and one in the round of 16.
03:00Mexico will feature in these knockout stage contests should they top Group A.
03:07The stadium is one of the few in use this World Cup to have undergone major refurbishments ahead of the
03:13tournament.
03:16These include an update to the stadium façade, new locker rooms, and high-resolution LED screens.
03:26Capacity increases from 83,000 to 90,000, with one of the lowest stands demolished and rebuilt.
03:35It is a great pleasure to come before this committee to report that the stadium's renovation is progressing significantly.
03:42More than two billion pesos are being invested in our stadium to be completely renovated for the next 40 or
03:4950 years.
03:49This modernization respects the architectural legacy and vast history of this colossal building.
03:57Still, we also want to significantly improve the experience of the thousands of sports and entertainment fans who attend the
04:04stadium.
04:07Brazil's performance in 1970 remains a high-water mark for team football.
04:15Maradona's individual brilliance in 1986 has never been bettered.
04:21Mexico City has proven itself an all-time great World Cup host.
04:28What does it have in store this time around?
04:31What does it have in store this time around?
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