Mexico City will be celebrating in 2026: Thursday, June 11 will be declared a local holiday, as the renovated Estadio Azteca (renamed Estadio Mexico City for FIFA) will host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It will be a historic moment, as the Azteca will become the first stadium in the world to inaugurate three World Cups (1970, 1986 and 2026), reaffirming its role as an icon of international soccer.
A holiday to experience soccer in community
The head of government, Clara Brugada, confirmed that June 11, 2026 will be a holiday in the capital so that the population can fully enjoy the World Cup.
In addition, free Fan Fests will be organized in the 16 mayor’s offices, with giant screens, sports activities and cultural shows.
This will allow thousands of people to follow the games in public spaces such as the capital’s Zócalo.
“We want the inauguration to be experienced not only in the stadium, but in every corner of the city,” said the governor at a press conference.
Community children’s tournament
Será un momento histórico
QuéOnnda.com
In addition to the celebrations for the 2026 World Cup, the Ollamaliztli (Ball Game) community tournament will be launched, aimed at children between the ages of 9 and 16.
Up to 10,000 games are expected to take place in neighborhoods, barrios and communities, with the participation of thousands of teams.
This effort will be supported by FIFA, Femexfut, UNICEF and UNHCR, in addition to local agencies such as Indeporte and the Mexico City Ministry of Education.
On March 1, 2026, an attempt will also be made to break the Guinness World Record for the largest soccer class in the world, which currently belongs to Seattle, USA, with just over 1,000 participants.
Historic renovation of the Azteca Stadium
The Azteca Stadium is being remodeled to receive the World Cup with an international standard. Among the improvements are the following:
Completely modernized dressing rooms.
New LED lighting and sound system.
VIP areas and hospitality for international tourists.
Urban improvements in the Tlalpan area to facilitate access and mobility.
The stadium is scheduled to officially reopen in March 2026, a few months before the World Cup opener.
World Cup 2026: a shared event
The 2026 World Cup will be played from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The Azteca will host the opening match and other knockout matches, while the final will be played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
For Hispanics living in the U.S., this will be a golden opportunity to travel to Mexico and enjoy the inauguration, but also to follow closely the games that will be played in cities such as Los Angeles, Houston, Dallas and Miami.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.