Latest news with #FelixAguirre
Washington Post
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Azteca Stadium to reopen 75 days before start of the 2026 World Cup
MEXICO CITY — The revamped Azteca Stadium is scheduled to reopen 75 days before the start of the 2026 World Cup with improved services around it, Mexico City mayor Clara Brugada announced on Wednesday. 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. Brugada did not reveal further details regarding the reopening of the stadium on March 28, 2026. Stadium director Felix Aguirre said they are thinking long term. 'The stadium is moving ahead with its renovations so it can work for the next 40 or 50 years,' he said. 'We are respecting its legacy, but we also want to improve the fan experience.' The stadium owners, a company related to Televisa, Mexico's largest television network, have 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 . Brugada also said that for the 2026 World Cup, they are going to improve a light rail line that heads toward Azteca, will enhance outdoor lighting and a pedestrian bridge around it among other things. On game days, the Xochimilco Light Rail known as Tren Ligero is one of the fastest ways to reach the stadium, located south of the city, but it currently has 20 trains and the city's government will purchase 17 more. 'We will have around 40 trains to attend a daily requirement of over 400,000 passengers,' Brugada said. The current capacity of the trains is 160,000 passengers per day and the ride from Taxqueña station, the closest metro line, to the stadium is around 15 minutes with trains departing every 10 minutes. Brugada said that with more trains the departures time will be shorter. The mayor said they will be upgrading the city's video surveillance camera system for the tournament and adding 40,000 to have a total of 123,000. Mexico City's video surveillance system is called the Command, Control, Computing, Communications, and Citizen contact center known as C5. Besides the cameras, the system has 1,000 panic buttons to enhance public safety. 'The video surveillance system put us in the forefront, we are the most video-monitored city in Latin America,' Brugada said. Brugada also informed that Los Pinos, which until 2018 was the Mexican president's official office and residence, will serve as the media center. ___ AP soccer:
Asharq Al-Awsat
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Mexico City Prepares to Welcome Millions for 2026 World Cup
Mexico City is gearing up to welcome more than five million visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whose opening match will be played in the sprawling megacity, authorities said Wednesday. The top football tournament will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, marking the first time that three countries co-host the event, reported AFP. Three of the 16 venues will be in the Latin American nation, with the central city of Guadalajara and northern industrial hub of Monterrey sharing Mexico's host duties with the capital. Eleven other venues will be in the United States and two in Canada. Mexico's government and city authorities are working together "to ensure that the experience is safe and smooth," Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said at a presentation. "More than five million people are expected to arrive" for the matches in Mexico City, which has around nine million residents and is more than 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, she said. The iconic Azteca Stadium, which has hosted two FIFA World Cup finals, is on track to be renovated by the time the whistle blows for the opening match on June 11, according to organizers. More than $100 million is being invested in the stadium, its general director Felix Aguirre said, promising that it "will be ready." The renovation triggered controversy after the venue was renamed after the bank that funded the work. FIFA ordered the stadium to be referred to as Mexico City Stadium because of its branding rules. Addressing security concerns in a country plagued by criminal violence, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said 40,000 new security cameras would be acquired, bringing the total to 123,000. "We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas," she said. Organizers called for a World Cup free of homophobia, racism and other attacks on civil liberties. FIFA has repeatedly sanctioned Mexico for homophobic chanting by its fans in stadiums.
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Mexico City prepares to welcome millions for 2026 World Cup
Three of the 16 venues will be in Mexico. PHOTO: AFP – Mexico City is gearing up to welcome more than five million visitors for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, whose opening match will be played in the sprawling megacity, authorities said on May 7. The top football tournament will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, marking the first time that three countries co-host the event. Three of the 16 venues will be in the Latin American nation, with the central city of Guadalajara and northern industrial hub of Monterrey sharing Mexico's host duties with the capital. Eleven other venues will be in the United States and two in Canada. Mexico's government and city authorities are working together 'to ensure that the experience is safe and smooth,' Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said at a presentation. 'More than five million people are expected to arrive' for the matches in Mexico City, which has around nine million residents and is more than 2,200 metres above sea level, she said. The iconic Azteca Stadium, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cup finals, is on track to be renovated by the time the whistle blows for the opening match on June 11, according to organisers. More than US$100 million (S$129.9 million) is being invested in the stadium, its general director Felix Aguirre said, promising that it 'will be ready.' The renovation triggered controversy after the venue was renamed after the bank that funded the work. Fifa ordered the stadium to be referred to as Mexico City Stadium because of its branding rules. Addressing security concerns in a country plagued by criminal violence, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said 40,000 new security cameras would be acquired, bringing the total to 123,000. 'We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas,' she said. Organisers called for a World Cup free of homophobia, racism and other attacks on civil liberties. Fifa has repeatedly sanctioned Mexico for homophobic chanting by its fans in stadiums. Fifa also announced on May 7 that the Maracana Stadium will be one of eight venues across Brazil to host matches at the 2027 Women's World Cup, the first edition to be held in Latin America. In addition to the iconic venue in Rio de Janeiro, the 64 matches of the competition will be played in Belo Horizonte (Mineirao Stadium), Brasilia (National Stadium), Fortaleza (Castelao Arena), Porto Alegre (Beira-Rio Stadium), Recife (Pernambuco Arena), Salvador (Fonte Nova Arena) and Sao Paulo (Itaquera Arena). 'From samba to frevo, from stunning beaches to cosmopolitan cities, the world will experience the energy, colour and warmth that only Brazil can offer,' said Fifa president Gianni Infantino. 'We will continue to work closely with the selected host cities on the exciting journey ahead of us, creating unforgettable moments in each of their stadiums in 2027, and ensuring that this tournament has a major and widespread positive impact.' The tournament to be played between June 24 and July 25, 2027, will feature 32 participating teams. 'The Fifa Women's World Cup 2027 will mark a historic milestone as the tournament heads to South America for the very first time,' said Fifa general secretary Mattias Grafstrom. 'The women's game continues to grow at an extraordinary pace, and bringing the tournament to Brazil will inspire a new generation across the continent and beyond.' AFP, REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Mexico City prepares to welcome millions for 2026 World Cup
MEXICO CITY: Mexico City is gearing up to welcome more than five million visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whose opening match will be played in the sprawling megacity, authorities said Wednesday. The top football tournament will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, marking the first time that three countries co-host the event. Three of the 16 venues will be in the Latin American nation, with the central city of Guadalajara and northern industrial hub of Monterrey sharing Mexico's host duties with the capital. Eleven other venues will be in the United States and two in Canada. Mexico's government and city authorities are working together 'to ensure that the experience is safe and smooth,' Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said at a presentation. 'More than five million people are expected to arrive' for the matches in Mexico City, which has around nine million residents and is more than 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, she said. The iconic Azteca Stadium, which has hosted two FIFA World Cup finals, is on track to be renovated by the time the whistle blows for the opening match on June 11, according to organizers. More than $100 million is being invested in the stadium, its general director Felix Aguirre said, promising that it 'will be ready.' The renovation triggered controversy after the venue was renamed after the bank that funded the work. FIFA ordered the stadium to be referred to as Mexico City Stadium because of its branding rules. Addressing security concerns in a country plagued by criminal violence, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said 40,000 new security cameras would be acquired, bringing the total to 123,000. 'We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas,' she said. Organizers called for a World Cup free of homophobia, racism and other attacks on civil liberties. FIFA has repeatedly sanctioned Mexico for homophobic chanting by its fans in stadiums.
Japan Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Japan Today
Mexico City prepares to welcome millions for 2026 World Cup
soccer Mexico City is gearing up to welcome more than five million visitors for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, whose opening match will be played in the sprawling megacity, authorities said Wednesday. The top soccer tournament will be held in Mexico, the United States and Canada, marking the first time that three countries co-host the event. Three of the 16 venues will be in the Latin American nation, with the central city of Guadalajara and northern industrial hub of Monterrey sharing Mexico's host duties with the capital. Eleven other venues will be in the United States and two in Canada. Mexico's government and city authorities are working together "to ensure that the experience is safe and smooth," Interior Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez said at a presentation. "More than five million people are expected to arrive" for the matches in Mexico City, which has around nine million residents and is more than 2,200 meters above sea level, she said. The iconic Azteca Stadium, which has hosted two FIFA World Cup finals, is on track to be renovated by the time the whistle blows for the opening match on June 11, according to organizers. More than $100 million is being invested in the stadium, its general director Felix Aguirre said, promising that it "will be ready." The renovation triggered controversy after the venue was renamed after the bank that funded the work. FIFA ordered the stadium to be referred to as Mexico City Stadium because of its branding rules. Addressing security concerns in a country plagued by criminal violence, Mexico City Mayor Clara Brugada said 40,000 new security cameras would be acquired, bringing the total to 123,000. "We will be the most video-surveilled city in all of the Americas," she said. Organizers called for a World Cup free of homophobia, racism and other attacks on civil liberties. FIFA has repeatedly sanctioned Mexico for homophobic chanting by its fans in stadiums. © 2025 AFP
