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Azteca Stadium Reopens for MexicoPortugal Test as Fatal Fall Triggers Investigation

The venue faces a tight run-up to hosting the June 11 World Cup opener.

Overview

  • Fans returned for the first match in nearly two years on Saturday, and a man died after a fall from a VIP box before kickoff as Mexico City prosecutors opened a case.
  • Renovations raised capacity to about 87,500 and added new seats, two large video screens, a 250-speaker sound system, upgraded locker rooms, a hybrid pitch, and stronger digital networks.
  • The reopening exposed pain points in crowd operations, with confused gate entry and no on-site parking, after a recent ticket resale crash forced a one-day halt.
  • Demonstrators gathered outside, including families searching for missing relatives and local groups calling out strains on housing, water, transport, and electricity near the stadium.
  • The stadium is slated for five World Cup games including the June 11 opener, and FIFA rules mean its commercial name, Estadio Banorte, will not be used during the tournament.