No arena in the world has hosted more World Cup games than the Aztec Stadium. And they weren’t just any, World Cup history was written several times in Mexico City. The 2026 world tournament will open here on Thursday.
It was June 22, 1986 and it was the 50th minute of the World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and England – when a certain Diego Armando Maradona scored 1-0 for the South Americans. The then 25-year-old cheered exuberantly about his supposed header goal and celebrated. But: The goal should never have counted because Maradona scored with his hand. Or to put it in the words of the world-class player: “That was the hand of God.”
Diego Maradona scores at the 1986 World Cup with the help of the “Hand of God”.
It really became “divine” barely five minutes later when Maradona grabbed the ball in midfield and went solo across half the pitch. Half a dozen Englishmen stood in the way of the speed dribbler and were left standing like slalom poles. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton also got around Maradona before making it 2-0 (final score 2-1).
They are two of the most famous goals in football history – FIFA later even named the 2-0 goal the “Goal of the Century”. And Maradona once said: “The Aztec Stadium is the cathedral of my life.”
Völler raves highly
The Estadio Azteca, as it is called in Spanish, is the World Cup record stadium from several points of view. 19 World Championship games have already taken place there – more than anywhere else. At the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, the Aztec Stadium was the venue for the opening game and the final. And the Aztec Stadium will be the first arena in the world to host a men’s World Cup opening game for the third time on Wednesday evening (June 11, 2026/9 p.m.), when Mexico and South Africa meet.
“For me, the Aztec Stadium is by far the most beautiful stadium in the world.”
DFB sports director Rudi Völler has seen the inside of many stadiums in his long career as a player, coach and official. He played in the Bundesliga, the Italian Serie A and the French Ligue 1. He stormed for Germany, including in the legendary Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. However, the now 66-year-old says with full conviction: “For me, the Aztec Stadium is by far the most beautiful stadium in the world.”
Bitter defeat in the 1986 World Cup final and in “Game of the Century”
Völler doesn’t just have good memories of the wide area. At the 1986 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina in front of an official 114,600 spectators, it was “Ruuuudi” who equalized for the DFB team after a 2-0 deficit eight minutes before the end to make it 2-2. Just three turns of the pointer later, however, it was Jorge Luis Burruchaga who scored to make the final score 3-2 for Argentina. By the way, based on Maradona’s submission.
Gerd Müller scores with a header in the “game of the century” at the 1970 World Cup against Italy.
16 years earlier, Germany had also played its semi-final against Italy in Mexico City in front of more than 102,000 spectators. A memorial plaque at the stadium still reminds us of the wild 4:3 (3:2, 1:1, 1:0) after extra time for the “Squadra Azurra”. In the duel known as the “game of the century”, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger and double packer Gerd Müller scored for the German team led by “Kaiser” Franz Beckenbauer.
Pope John Paul II and Michael Jackson were also there
The Aztec Stadium opened in 1966. Two years later, many games in the Olympic football tournament were played there. But it wasn’t the official Olympic stadium.
In 1985, the hard ground on which the stadium was built apparently prevented major damage during a severe earthquake. The Aztec Stadium stands at an altitude of 2,200 meters on the basalt deposits of the Xitle volcano, which was extinct 2,000 years ago. Even the iconic “flying roof”, a structure seemingly floating above the stands without any pillars obstructing the view, remained undamaged.
The new Aztec Stadium – Mexico’s friendly against Portugal after the renovation.
The Aztec Stadium has also gained fame beyond football. In 1993, Michael Jackson played a series of concerts in Mexico City. 100,000 people attended each of the “King of Pop’s” five consecutive performances. Just as many were in the wide circle when Pope John Paul II gave a speech in the Aztec Stadium six years later.
Looking for new heroes – five World Cup games in Mexico City
Around 83,000 spectators will watch the opening game of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa live at the Estadio Azteca. The arena has been rebuilt over the years and modernized again for the World Cup. The building should not have lost its typical character. “Our renovation will preserve the external and internal structure – and the stadium will retain its identity”said Javier Ramirez Campuzano, who, as the son of the original architect, was responsible for the reconstruction of the stadium supported by 66 massive reinforced concrete columns.
A total of five games will take place at this World Cup in the Aztec Stadium – the last in the first round of 16 on July 6th. The successor to Diego Armando Maradona is being sought. The Azteca is ready for new exploits.