Mexico v South Africa: The Azteca Opens the Show for the Third Time in History
On 4 February 2024 FIFA confirmed the Estadio Azteca would host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, making it the only stadium ever to host three editions of the tournament. During the tournament FIFA's no-corporate-sponsorship policy means it will be referred to as Estadio Ciudad de México, per Wikipedia.
T he Estadio Azteca has hosted two World Cup finals: Pelé's Brazil in 1970 and Maradona's Argentina in 1986. On 11 June 2026 it will host the opening match of a third tournament, becoming the only stadium in history to do so, according to FIFA.com and StadiumDB.com. The opening fixture: Mexico against South Africa.
Banorte funds the renovation
The venue has undergone a major renovation funded by a $106 million loan from Grupo Financiero Banorte to operator Ollamani, signed on 14 March 2025. As part of that agreement, Banorte purchased the stadium's naming rights, and outside FIFA windows the venue is now branded as Estadio Banorte, per the Billboard and Wikipedia coverage of the deal.
FIFA strips the Banorte naming for broadcasts
During the tournament itself, however, FIFA's policy of removing corporate sponsorship from venue names applies. According to Wikipedia and Goal.com, the stadium will be referred to officially as 'Estadio Ciudad de México' (Mexico City Stadium) for all FIFA broadcasts and signage.
Mexico's group fixtures at the Azteca
Mexico's group matches at the venue: the opener on 11 June against South Africa, then the final group match against Czechia on 24 June (per worldcupglobally.com schedule data, drawn from the FIFA fixture list). Mexico's middle group match is in Guadalajara, not at the Azteca.
The final on 19 July is at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. But for one afternoon in June, the oldest cathedral of World Cup football opens the show one more time.
Reporting: FIFA.com (4 Feb 2024 announcement), Wikipedia (Estadio Azteca and 2026 venue policy), Goal.com, StadiumDB.com, Billboard. The Banorte sponsorship deal value of $106 million and 14 March 2025 date is confirmed by Wikipedia and Billboard.