00:04Mexico City is the fifth largest metropolitan area by population in the world.
00:13Over 20 million people call the capital of Mexico home, and most of them are football crazy.
00:25For a record third time, the capitalinos will get to experience a World Cup on their doorstep.
00:31When the 2026 tournament kicks off at the Estadio Azteca on June 11, Mexico City will break new ground.
00:40The Azteca welcomed the world for the first time in 1970,
00:44providing the backdrop for Pele to exit the international game at the highest level, with a third winner's medal.
00:53The 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.
01:05Then in 1986, the Azteca provided the stage upon which Diego Maradona would enthrall the world
01:11and scored two of the competition's most memorable goals in the quarter-final,
01:16before lifting the World Cup trophy there 11 days later.
01:22Mexico will be an exceptional host for the World Cup, the third World Cup in Mexico,
01:31the third World Cup opening game in the Azteca Stadium after 1970 and 1986, and now in 2026.
01:44The Azteca Stadium, it isn't a stadium, it's a temple for football.
01:49For Mexican football, of course, for North American football, and for global football.
01:55Players like Pele Maradona won World Cups there.
01:58They played incredibly well in some of the most memorable matches in the history of football.
02:10And truly, that's why we're happy to kick off this World Cup on the 11th of June in the Azteca
02:15Stadium,
02:16and then have other matches in Monterrey, Guadalajara, because Mexico is football,
02:21and the people who are going to come to Mexico for this World Cup will have a fantastic time.
02:35The Azteca is known commercially as Estadio Bañorte, and will be officially named Mexico City Stadium during the 2026 World
02:44Cup.
02:47As well as the opening match of the tournament, the stadium will host five fixtures.
02:52Three group stage matches, one round of 32 clash, and one in the round of 16.
02:59Mexico will feature in these knockout stage contests should they top Group A.
03:06The stadium is one of the few in use this World Cup to have undergone major refurbishments ahead of the
03:12tournament.
03:15These include an update to the stadium facade, new locker rooms, and high resolution LED screens.
03:25Capacity increases from 83,000 to 90,000, with one of the lowest stands demolished and rebuilt.
03:34It is a great pleasure to come before this committee to report that the stadium's renovation is progressing significantly.
03:41More than two billion pesos are being invested in our stadium to be completely renovated for the next 40 or
03:4850 years.
03:49This modernization respects the architectural legacy and vast history of this colossal building.
03:56Still, we also want to significantly improve the experience of the thousands of sports and entertainment fans who attend the
04:03stadium.
04:07Brazil's performance in 1970 remains a high watermark for team football.
04:14Maradona's individual brilliance in 1986 has never been bettered.
04:19Mexico City has proven itself an all-time great World Cup host.
04:27What does it have in store this time around?
04:30What does it have in store this time around?
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