Estadio Azteca (Club América) – Mexico City

Estadio Azteca is one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world, located in Mexico City, Mexico. It serves as the home ground for Club América and the Mexican national football team. Renowned for its vast size and rich history, Estadio Azteca is a symbol of Mexican football.

History:

Opened in 1966, Estadio Azteca has been the site of numerous historic football matches, including two FIFA World Cup finals in 1970 and 1986. The stadium has witnessed legendary performances from football greats like Pelé and Diego Maradona.

Interesting Facts:

Estadio Azteca has a seating capacity of over 87,000, making it one of the largest stadiums in the world.
It is the only stadium to have hosted two FIFA World Cup finals.
The "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" by Diego Maradona during the 1986 World Cup quarter-final match against England took place here.

My Tour Experience at Estadio Azteca:

I grew up during the 1980s, and the 1986 World Cup events at Estadio Azteca are engraved in my memory. It was at the top of my list of famous football stadiums to visit.

Outside view of Estadio Azteca, one of the most iconic football stadiums in the world. — Outside view of Estadio Azteca, a legendary football stadium in Mexico City.

My tour was one of the first of the day, departing at 11:00 AM. When I arrived by train at Estadio Azteca, the area was very quiet, with just a few vendors setting up stalls to sell their wares later in the day.

Exterior view of Estadio Azteca, showcasing its iconic architecture. — A closer view of Estadio Azteca, one of the world's most famous football stadiums, located in Mexico City.

It was a good thing I checked the tour website for the times and the meeting point. The tour departed on time and was conducted in Spanish, but I have an advanced level, so it was fine for me. If you're not fluent, you may want to check for English guided tours of Estadio Azteca.

View of the Estadio Azteca pitch near Nachito’s statue, highlighting the iconic football field. — Estadio Azteca Pitch - View Near Nachito’s Statue

Some highlights of the tour included visiting the historic dressing rooms, where two of the biggest names in football, Pelé and Diego Maradona, celebrated their World Cup victories in 1970 and 1986.

Changing room at Estadio Azteca set up for Club América. — Inside the changing room of Club América at Estadio Azteca.

From there, we walked up the infamous slope that gained fame during the 1986 World Cup.

Pelé's signature on the football design flooring at Estadio Azteca. — Pelé's signature on the football design flooring at Estadio Azteca, in tunnel outside dressing rooms leading to the field of play.

A major highlight was seeing the spot where Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal occurred, allowing us to reimagine that controversial moment from pitch level.

View from behind the goal where Maradona's "Hand of God" goal was scored at Estadio Azteca. — The view from behind the goal at Estadio Azteca, the site of Diego Maradona's infamous "Hand of God" goal.

The tour takes you around the pitchside to sit in the dugouts and take photos.

Pitchside view at Estadio Azteca, showcasing the field and stands. — A pitchside view at Estadio Azteca, where football legends have left their mark.

Visitor sitting in the dugout during a tour of Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. — Enjoying a moment in the dugout during a tour of the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

Even though many football legends have walked there, I couldn’t help but recall the images of the 1986 World Cup mascot, Pique, parading around in his big Mexican sombrero.

Press conference table at Estadio Azteca, set up for media events. — The press conference table at Estadio Azteca, a key area for media interactions during major events.

An unexpected highlight was learning about the local legend ‘Nachito,’ whose statue is located in the stands. For more about Nachito, check out my blog post about this iconic statue.

Wider view of Nachito’s statue at Estadio Azteca, honoring football fan Ignacio Villanueva. — Nachito’s statue, a tribute to Ignacio Villanueva at Estadio Azteca.

With the 1986 World Cup being such a significant part of my childhood, I was in awe of being in the stadium that was the centerpiece of that tournament—a must for anyone with a keen interest in historically significant stadiums.

A plaque outside Estadio Azteca commemorating Diego Maradona's legendary goal against England during the 1986 World Cup—presumably for the one he scored with his foot!

Plaque commemorating the 1970 and 1986 World Cups at Estadio Azteca, honoring Brazil and Argentina. — A plaque at Estadio Azteca celebrating the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, where Brazil and Argentina reigned supreme—two legends, one stadium!

I found that the tour guide provided sufficient information, but I did have to ask a few questions, such as which dressing room the World Cup winners used during the finals and confirming the goal end where the 'Hand of God' goal was scored.

I would have loved to stay longer to see a game, but unfortunately, the next match was scheduled for the following evening, just as I was leaving Mexico City.

Tour Highlights:

Visit the players’ dressing rooms.
Walk through the tunnel onto the pitch.
Explore the stadium’s VIP areas and press rooms.
Enjoy panoramic views of the pitch from various vantage points.

Tour Details:

Times: Tours run daily but differ on matchdays.
Duration: Approximately 90 minutes.
Address: Calzada de Tlalpan 3465, Santa Úrsula Coapa, Coyoacán, 04650 Ciudad de México, Mexico.
Directions: Easily accessible by Mexico City's public transport network, including metro and bus services.

For more information you can visit the Azteca Stadium Tour Webiste.

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