Estadio Banorte (Estadio Azteca) – design description

What is the Estadio Azteca modernization project in a nutshell?

The largest modernization in the history of Estadio Azteca, Mexico's biggest and most important stadium, is taking place in preparation for the 2026 World Cup. Work began in mid-2024 and is expected to be completed in early 2026 – during which time the venue will be out of service.

The work is extensive, but the changes will not be revolutionary – Estadio Azteca will retain its current style and character.

The stadium's exterior will be enhanced by LED banners, which will be mounted on elements of the reinforced concrete framework – the characteristic columns and cross beams. The roof and entrances to the stadium will also undergo renovation.

Inside, the facility will increase its capacity to 90,000 spectators, VIP boxes will be rebuilt, the press area will be moved to a corner, and new locker rooms will be located centrally, under the east stand – instead of the current location behind one of the goals.

The stadium will be comprehensively upgraded and brought up to modern standards to ensure maximum comfort for spectators and to enhance the quality of the VIP offering. The changes are intended to prepare the facility for the prestigious opening match and the remaining matches of the World Cup, as well as to sustain its leading status for years to come.

Why was the modernization of Estadio Azteca undertaken?

The plans to modernize Estadio Azteca arose in connection with the 2026 World Cup, to be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The selection of North American countries to host the 2026 World Cup took place in June 2018, and it is expected to be the largest World Cup ever – for the first time the tournament will be held in three countries and a record 48 national teams will take part.

In June 2022, the venues for the World Cup were announced – most of them are to be in the United States, while in Mexico the matches will be played in only three stadiums, including the Estadio Azteca.

For the legendary Estadio Azteca, this will be the third World Cup in history – previously (1970, 1986) the stadium was the most important venue of that tournaments and hosted the final matches, this time it was scheduled to host “only” the opening game.

When were plans to modernize Estadio Azteca conceived?

The first plans to modernize Estadio Azteca appeared as early as June 2022, shortly after the World Cup venues were announced. At the time, the plan was not only to renovate the stadium, but also to make major changes to the surrounding area – a huge shopping mall was to be built to the west of Estadio Azteca.

In the end, the construction of the mall was abandoned and the focus was solely on upgrading the stadium. The first details of the investment and new renderings appeared in the media in early 2024, with the renowned American studio Populous responsible for the design.

When will Estadio Azteca be modernized?

The reconstruction started after the final two games of the Clausura 2024 tournament (the second leg was played on May 26, 2024 at Estadio Azteca). Work was to be completed by the end of 2025; according to later information, the reconstruction is expected to be finished in February 2026.

Why did Estadio Azteca change its name to Estadio Banorte?

A partnership with Banorte, one of Mexico's largest banks, was announced in March 2025. In exchange for a 12-year loan to secure financing for the stadium's redevelopment ahead of the World Cup, Banorte became the title sponsor of the facility, which was for the first time given a commercial name: Estadio Banorte.

The amount the loan is for is 2.1 billion pesos, although earlier reports indicated that just over 1.5 billion pesos would be enough to upgrade the stadium.

What does the Estadio Azteca modernization project entail?

The modernization is the largest in Estadio Azteca's history to date – the work requires the stadium to be closed for the entire period of the construction, which will last more than a year and a half. Despite the relatively large scope of the work, the changes to the stadium will not be revolutionary and it will largely retain its current form.

The work is to include reorganizing parts of the VIP boxes, rebuilding parts of the lower stands and increasing the number of seats for spectators to 90,000. The press boxes are to be moved to the northeast corner.

A major change will be the construction of new locker rooms for the players, which will be centrally located under the eastern stand, rather than behind one of the goals as before. The modernization will also include the creation of new food and beverage outlets, replacement of the video screens, renovation of the toilets or a new video surveillance system.

Outside, the reinforced concrete beams and pillars will be upgraded with LED banners, which will enhance the stadium's appearance and allow for making colorful choreographies. The reconstruction will also involve the entrances to the stadium. The canopy will undergo renovation as well, which will additionally receive translucent backlit panels.