Estadio Azteca is undergoing renovations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The stadium will host the opening ceremony of the tournament, which will take place next summer, and significant sums have been allocated for all renovation works.

The stock market tells the truth

Estadio Azteca has been closed since 2024, forcing Cruz Azul and América to relocate to other stadiums. According to a quarterly report from Ollamani, the company that owns the stadium and is listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange, 472.9 million pesos were invested in the renovation last year. This initial amount was used to demolish parts of the stands, remove seats, and level the pitch.

It is expected that the works will be completed by 2025, and at the latest by 2026, with an additional budget of 1,038.2 million pesos. The total cost of the stadium renovation amounts to 1,511.1 million pesos (about $75 million), including expenses incurred in 2024 and planned for 2025 and 2026.

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The works are proceeding as planned

Emilio Azcárraga, the president of Televisa, a key partner in the project, assured that the renovation of Estadio Azteca is proceeding according to schedule and that the stadium will be ready for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada. He explained that there was a misunderstanding because there were two different projects – one related to the development of external areas around the stadium and the other concerning the renovation of the stadium itself.

For various reasons, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the external development project ceased to be relevant, but the stadium renovation is continuing as planned. It’s an icon of football [...] it deserved to be renovated. We will all be very happy with the final result, he added.