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“There’s something very special about the Aztecs,” Pele said. “You have to go inside it and feel it to understand it. It’s unique.”
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The Brazilian legend enjoyed one of the best moments of his career at the Estadio Azteca, celebrating his third World Cup in the towering stadium of Mexico’s vast capital.
This year, a new generation of players will understand just how special this stadium is, as it will be the first arena to host World Cup matches in three different tournaments.
From Brazil’s remarkable World Cup victory in 1970 to Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal in 1986, this arena has provided the backdrop for some of the biggest moments in soccer history.
After almost two years of renovation work, the 83,000-seat stadium is ready for the kick-off of the biggest World Cup in history.
Here’s everything you need to know about Mexico City’s legendary stadium.
The early days of Estadio Azteca
Construction of the Colossus of Santa Ursula began in 1961 and was completed five years later, with more than 107,000 fans attending the first match between Mexico’s Club América and Italy’s Torino.
The venue was subsequently used for many matches during the 1968 Mexico City Olympic soccer competition, including the final where Hungary defeated Bulgaria 4-1.
Two years later, Mexico became the first country outside of Europe and South America to host the tournament and was the featured stadium for the 1970 World Cup.
Estadio Azteca hosted 10 matches during the tournament, including Mexico’s opening game, which ended in a scoreless draw with the Soviet Union.
It was also the venue for what is widely considered one of the greatest games of all time, in which Italy defeated West Germany 4-3 in overtime in a stunning semi-final encounter.
Italy lost 4-1 to Brazil in the final, and Pele paraded the Azteca pitch with the World Cup trophy aloft.
“Hand of God” Goal
The story of the 1970 World Cup at Estadio Azteca provides enough material to fill a stadium museum, but the magnificent arena was not yet completed.
Sixteen years after Pele lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy in Mexico, the World Cup has returned to the North American country and the country’s largest stadium is once again the center of action.
The opening game of the tournament was a 1-1 draw between Bulgaria and Italy, one of nine matches played at the venue. However, it was the quarter-final match between Argentina and England that became the most famous moment in the Aztecs’ illustrious history.
Argentina’s Diego Maradona was at the center of it all, touching the hearts of Britons with two iconic moments.
With the game goalless in the 55th minute, Maradona raced to a high ball with England goalkeeper Peter Shilton. The Argentine hit the ball into the net with his left hand, infuriating Three Lions players and staff. The referee did not find a foul and allowed the goal.
A few minutes later, Maradona showed off his use of his feet by dribbling past numerous players and scoring one of the greatest individual goals of all time.
Maradona and his team defeated West Germany 3-2, allowing Argentina to advance to the final and open the World Cup in Mexico City.
challenging environment
Mexico are scheduled to play two of their three group games at the Estadio Azteca, with some knock-out matches also likely to be played there, including a possible Round of 16 match against England.
If the expectations of more than 80,000 Mexican fans weren’t intimidating enough, opposing players will also have to deal with the altitude and poor air quality of Mexico’s vast capital.
Latin America’s largest stadium, Estadio Azteca, is located approximately 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level, and its high altitude is set to be a real test for teams traveling to Mexico City for the match.
“At any running intensity, you would expect fatigue to appear sooner, heart rate to increase, and the ability to sustain the high-intensity effort that is the hallmark of modern international football to be reduced,” Sam Shepard, head of sports science at sports nutrition company Precision Fuel and Hydration, told The Associated Press.
To reduce the physiological damage caused by rarefied air, sports scientists generally recommend two contrasting approaches. One is a long-term acclimatization period of at least two weeks, and the other is a “fly-in, fly-out” approach, arriving as close to kickoff as possible before acute symptoms begin.
Renovations go all the way to the wire.
After nearly two years of renovations, Estadio Azteca reopened in March for a friendly between Mexico and Portugal.
Redevelopment work included new seating, locker room upgrades, improved lighting, and the reconstruction of a pedestrian bridge that connects to the local Huipulco neighborhood transportation network.
The project has been plagued by delays from the start, with workers still putting the finishing touches on the stadium with 48 hours left until it officially reopens.
Despite a last-minute flurry, Estadio Azteca hosted a friendly on March 28th, which ended in a goalless draw between the two teams.
This historic venue will host five matches during the World Cup and will also host the opening ceremony.
