It’s Thursday, 11 June 2026.
The referee walks to the centre circle, fingers steady, eyes alert. One last scan left, one quick look right. He presses a button on his wristwatch — click. The whistle rises to his lips.
“Twee-it!”
The World Cup is underway.
The ball rolls, and 75,000 fans inside the stadium erupt with excitement and anticipation. But what may go unnoticed in the chaos of kickoff is this:
That whistle?
It’s been heard here 19 times before.
This one is the 20th — a new record.
A Stadium Like No Other
This opening match of the FIFA 2026 World Cup takes place in Mexico, one of three host nations alongside the USA and Canada. And it's being held in perhaps the most iconic football stadium on Earth: Estadio Azteca.
Before today, the Azteca had already hosted 19 World Cup matches — more than any other stadium in history. With this opening game, it extends that tally to 20.
But there’s more.
The Azteca will also become the only stadium in the world to host three World Cup opening matches.
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1970 – Mexico vs USSR (0–0)
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1986 – Italy vs Bulgaria (1–1)
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2026 – ??? vs ??? — could another draw be on the cards?
Legends Were Made Here
Pele dazzled in 1970.
Maradona rewrote football in 1986.
And in 2026, new legends may rise beneath those towering stands.
The Azteca won't host the final this time (that honour goes to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey), but it will once again be centre stage — hosting five matches, including both group games and knockout fixtures.
A Fan Who Never Misses a Match
And watching over it all — as always — is Nachito.
Perched in the stands as a statue in tribute to the fans, Nachito is the eternal supporter, never missing a moment of World Cup drama in his beloved stadium.
Find out more about him here:
The Legacy of Nachito: A Tribute to Football Fandom at Estadio Azteca.