logo
Azteca Stadium to feature hybrid field, modern amenities for 2026 World Cup

Azteca Stadium to feature hybrid field, modern amenities for 2026 World Cup

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A hybrid field, updated locker rooms, elevators and hospitality zones are among the new features of Azteca Stadium for the 2026 World Cup, the owners said Wednesday.
Sports entertainment company Ollamani also confirmed the stadium will reopen March 28, which will be 75 days before the start of the World Cup as Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada announced recently.
'The centerpiece of the stadium's renovation is the people who visit it. Our main objective is to substantially improve their experience in every way,' stadium director Felix Aguirre said in a statement.
The iconic venue closed last May for renovations ahead of next year's 48-team competition hosted by Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The 83,000-seat Azteca, which recently was renamed, will host five games including the tournament opener. It also hosted the first matches in the 1971 and 1986 World Cups.
Ollamani, which is affiliated with Grupo Televisa, Mexico's largest television network, also said the stadium will have bigger capacity, but did not specify how many extra seats it will have.
It will be the second time that Azteca has a hybrid pitch — one was installed in 2018 but returned to natural grass a year later. The poor field conditions in November 2018 forced a last-minute change of venue for an NFL game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Rams.
'The pitch, being subjected to intensive use, will have a new ventilation and suction system, thereby achieving better recovery, stability and resistance,' Ollamani said in a statement.
The new locker rooms will be located at the center of the stadium under the luxury boxes and with a tunnel leading to the pitch. Before, they were located in the north and south part of it.
'The project includes new facilities in the competition areas, improving the experience of the player, fans and media in line with the most modern stadiums in the world,' the company said.
The plan includes installing large LED screens inside and outside the stadium. Before the renovations, the stadium had just two big screens that were installed in 2015.
Ollamani did not provided specific details about elevators or escalators. In the past, the only way to move between the lower and upper sections was using an old ramp.
The hospitality zones were also a necessity. The old stadium had a small concession area outside the venue, but inside there were no food courts and the fans were forced to buy from the vendors roaming the seating area.
Among other renovations, the stadium owners also announced a new press box area, improved restrooms, a 200-unit CCTV surveillance system and a new sound system.
Originally, a major renovation was planned including a shopping center and hotel, but residents of Santa Úrsula, a popular neighborhood located south of the capital, opposed them.
Ollamani said that the facade and the roof will be renovated 'to improve the stadium appearance without losing its essence.'
Earlier in the year, the owners released images of work done on the pitch and the lower seats. The luxury boxes apparently haven't been touched because some owners refuse to release them to FIFA.
The box owners recently filed a complaint with Mexico's consumer protection agency seeking clarity over use of the seating for the 2026 World Cup.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game
MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game

Winnipeg Free Press

time11 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

MLS, playing without Messi, beats Liga MX 3-1 in All-Star Game

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sam Surridge, Tai Baribo and Brian White scored goals and Major League Soccer defeated Liga MX of Mexico 3-1 in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday night. Lionel Messi and his Inter Miami teammate, Jordi Alba, both face possible league suspensions for their team's next match against Cincinnati on Saturday for missing the All-Star game. Liga MX's James Rodríguez also chose not to play in the game played in front of more than 20,000 fans at Q2 Stadium. MLS has defeated Liga MX three times in four tries. Last year Liga MX won 4-1 in Columbus, Ohio. The MLS All-Stars won in 2022 and beat Liga MX on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw a year prior. Messi has yet to appear in an MLS All-Star Game. He missed the game last year with an injury. Messi is tied with Nashville's Surridge for the MLS lead in goals with 18. Surridge scored another goal on Wednesday, from the middle of the box, heading in to the lower right corner a ball directed by LAFC's Denis Bouanga in the 28th minute. The opportunity developed after Bouanga had a point-blank attempt stopped by Liga MX goalkeeper Luis Malagon (Club America). Bouanga hustled to retrieve the long rebound and sent it to Surridge. Before the goal, both teams had attempts rejected with diving stops by Luis Malagón and Austin FC's Brad Stuver in the 13th and 18th minutes. MLS went ahead 2-0 in the 51st minute when Diego Rossi (Columbus) passed ahead to Baribo (Philadelphia), whose right footed shot from the center of the box made it to the lower left corner of the goal. Liga MX closed the gap to 2-1 just 13 minutes later when Gilberto Mora (Club Tijuana) converted a pass from Elias Montiel (Pachuca) from the middle of the box. Liga MX's bid to tie the match was snubbed when a shot by Diber Cambindo (Necaxa) was stopped by Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver) in the 75th minute. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. White (Vancouver) finished the scoring in the 80th minute. Up next MLS and Liga MX continue their rivalry with the Leagues Cup that begins on July 29 and concludes Aug. 31. The competition features a new format, with all 18 clubs from Liga MX and the top 18 from MLS competing. Last year all 47 clubs from the two leagues were included. ___ AP soccer:

Harper hits 350th career homer, 4 teammates also go deep in Phillies' loss to the Red Sox
Harper hits 350th career homer, 4 teammates also go deep in Phillies' loss to the Red Sox

Winnipeg Free Press

time11 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Harper hits 350th career homer, 4 teammates also go deep in Phillies' loss to the Red Sox

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Bryce Harper hit the 350th homer of his career and four Phillies teammates also went deep Wednesday night, yet it wasn't enough for Philadelphia to beat the Boston Red Sox. Harper's milestone home run came in the first inning off Boston starter Lucas Giloito. He hit a first pitch fastball into the second deck in right field at Citizens Bank Park. The 439-foot homer run was his longest since a 451-foot blast on Sept. 23, 2023, against the New York Mets. 'It's pretty awesome,' Harper said after the Phillies' 9-8, 11-inning loss to Boston. 'On an individual note, I'm super happy about it. But I always want to win, obviously, and not getting the win was pretty tough.' The homer was the hardest hit ball of the season for Harper, who has begun to look like his former MVP self in recent weeks. In his last 10 games, the 32-year-old slugger has 16 hits, 14 for extra bases, including five home runs. He became the 105th player in MLB history to reach 350 homers in a career and is the eighth active player to accomplish the feat. He is also the youngest in that group of eight to reach that milestone. Despite the loss, the Phillies can take some solace that the offense has been starting to drive the ball with more authority since the All-Star break. 'It's disappointing (to lose)' Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. 'But the offense was good tonight.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Harper's homer came right after a home run by Kyle Schwarber, who has gone deep four times in the last six games and ranks third in the NL with 34 homers. Nick Castellanos, Bryson Stott and J.T. Realmuto also homered in the loss for the Phillies. Realmuto's homer was his first against a left-handed pitcher this season. Stott also doubled, playing in a game after his wife gave birth to their second child, a son, earlier on Wednesday. 'It was a big night for the offense,' Harper said. 'I thought we've swung the bat well all series. I thought we had some great at-bats. I'm super pumped for (Stott) obviously, having a baby at 3:45 in the morning, not getting much rest and then coming in and (doing what he did in the game) – that's baseball. I swear it happens every time.' ___ AP MLB:

Owen Farrell returns to Lions bench as Andy Farrell makes 3 changes for second test
Owen Farrell returns to Lions bench as Andy Farrell makes 3 changes for second test

Winnipeg Free Press

time11 minutes ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Owen Farrell returns to Lions bench as Andy Farrell makes 3 changes for second test

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Owen Farrell has been selected on the bench in a British and Irish Lions overhaul for the second test against Australia that includes three changes to the starting lineup that won the first test 27-19 in Brisbane last weekend. Farrell led the Lions in their last midweek tour game against the First Nations and Pasifika squad and is now set to make his first test appearance since England's World Cup campaign in 2023 on Saturday. His father, head coach Andy Farrell, recalled Bundee Aki to start at inside center to replace Sione Tuipulotu in the only change to the starting backline. England's Ollie Chessum was drafted in to partner skipper Maro Itoje as a replacement for injured Ireland lock Joe McCarthy and Andrew Porter replaced Ellis Genge at loosehead, giving the Lions an all-Ireland frontrow. Joining Owen Farrell on the bench will be Jac Morgan, restoring a Welsh player to the match 23 after an absence last weekend. Australia coach Joe Schmidt made three changes to his starting pack with blindside flanker Rob Valetini and lock Will Skelton returning from injuries to add some size and weight and hooker David Porecki joining the frontrow. Langi Gleeson returns as forward cover on the eight-man reserves bench, which only has two backs — scrumhalf Tate McDermott and utility Ben Donaldson. The Wallabies need a win on Saturday in Melbourne to keep the three-test series alive. The Lions are now 7-0 in Australia, including the 27-19 victory in last week's first test against the Wallabies and wins over Super Rugby franchises Western Force, Queensland Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies and two invitational teams. The Lions have taken leads into the Melbourne match in the last two tours to Australia in 2001 and 2013 but lost the second test there both times. In 2001, Australia rallied to clinch the series in Sydney in the third test. The Lions won the Sydney decider 12 years ago. ___ Squads: Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Tom Lynagh, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Nick Frost, Allan Ala'alatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper. Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Tom Robertson, Jeremy Wiliams, Langi Gleeson, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson. British and Irish Lions: Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Tommy Freeman (England), Huw Jones (Scotland), Bundee Aki (Ireland), James Lowe (Ireland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); Jack Conan (Ireland), Tom Curry (England), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Ollie Chessum (England), Maro Itoje (England, captain), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Dan Sheehan (Ireland), Andrew Porter (Ireland). Reserves: Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Ellis Genge (England). Will Stuart (England), James Ryan (Ireland), Jac Morgan (Wales), Alex Mitchell (England), Owen Farrell (England), Blair Kinghorn (Scotland). ___ AP rugby:

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store