With less than two years before the start of the 2026 World Cup, the Coloso de Santa Úrsula is undergoing major renovations. MexicoCity26's official account on X has revealed footage that shows the progress of the work.

Renovation progress on multiple fronts

In the video, which lasts just over a minute, we see the changes to the pitch. The construction crew has started work by removing the benches to modify some areas inside the venue, for the benefit of the fans. Even the most luxurious boxes at Estadio Azteca have already been completely removed, also the stands are gradually starting to run out of seats, which will be completely replaced by 2026. In addition, the video shows work involving some superficial modifications to the exterior of the stadium to strengthen the pillars of the venue.

Although the developers had planned a shopping mall and hotel on the edge of the complex, this scheme was rejected due to complaints from neighbours who protested about possible water shortages due to the construction. Although the redevelopment process is already underway, there are still no final visuals showing what Estadio Azteca will look like when it is completed. Preliminary estimates by planners indicate that the investment will cost nearly 308 million pesos to complete and that the stadium will be operational by the end of 2025.

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Will the NFL return to its favourite Mexican stadium?

In the past, Estadio Azteca has not only been the stage for football, but also concerts and top-level sporting events such as the NFL. As ESPN's John Sutcliffe reports, the NFL league is planning to expand the number of international games in 2025, and Mexico is one of the countries most under consideration for this. However, hosting the event depends on the venue being in optimum condition following renovations. The NFL has visited Mexico on a number of occasions and Estadio Azteca has been a favourite venue for these games, cementing itself as a priority in the NFL's plans for international expansion.

The NFL's last visit to Mexico was in November 2022, when the San Francisco 49ers faced the Arizona Cardinals in a duel that ended with a score of 38:10 in favour of the 49ers. The event, held at Estadio Azteca, was a success. If for some reason the stadium is not ready by 2025, the NFL may consider returning a year later, because although other stadiums in Mexico, such as Estadio BBVA and Estadio Akron, have expressed interest in hosting NFL games, Estadio Azteca is still the preferred venue for the US-based league.