Wed | Dec 3, 2025

Azteca to reopen with Mexico-Portugal friendly

Published:Wednesday | December 3, 2025 | 12:07 AM
The Azteca Stadium, which will host the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sits in Mexico City during renovations on Tuesday, November 18.
AP
The Azteca Stadium, which will host the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, sits in Mexico City during renovations on Tuesday, November 18.

MEXICO CITY (AP):

AZTECA STADIUM will reopen in March when Mexico host Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo in a friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the Mexican football federation confirmed yesterday.

The iconic stadium, closed since May of last year for renovations, will host five World Cup matches, including the opener on June 11.

Azteca, recently renamed Banorte Stadium, will become the first venue in history to host a third World Cup opening match. Mexico, who staged the World Cup in 1970 and 1986, are co-hosting next summer’s tournament with the United States and Canada.

The match against Portugal will take place on March 28. Mexico also announced a warm-up game against Belgium to be played three days later at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Coach Javier Aguirre said after a 2-1 loss to Paraguay in November that he wanted to play two matches with players from the local league in Central America in January, but the Mexican federation has yet to confirm them.