No stadium on Earth carries more World Cup history than Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Pelé won here. Maradona scored the “Hand of God” and the “Goal of the Century” here. And in 2026, it becomes the first stadium ever to host three men’s World Cups. After seven years of writing about who owns the world’s great venues, this is the ownership story I was most excited to tell.
The Azteca is also hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026 opening match. So who actually owns this cathedral of football? Here’s the complete, accurate story.
What Is Estadio Azteca?
Estadio Azteca is the national stadium of Mexico, opened in 1966 in the south of Mexico City at an altitude of more than 7,200 feet. It’s the home of club giants Club América and the Mexico national team. Historically one of the largest stadiums in the world, its capacity sits around 72,000–87,000 depending on configuration and the current renovation. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA refers to it as “Estadio Ciudad de México” (Mexico City Stadium).
Who Owns Estadio Azteca?
Estadio Azteca is owned by Grupo Televisa, Mexico’s largest media and entertainment conglomerate. Televisa has controlled the stadium since its construction, and the venue has long been tied to the company’s sports and broadcasting empire.
Day-to-day, the stadium is now run by Ollamani, S.A.B., a publicly traded company that was spun off from Televisa in 2023. Ollamani also controls Club América, the most successful club in Mexican football. So when I trace the paperwork, the chain is clear: Televisa sits at the top, with Ollamani operating the stadium and the resident club.
Estadio Azteca Ownership at a Glance
| Party | Role | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Grupo Televisa | Owner | Mexico’s largest media conglomerate; has owned the Azteca since 1966 |
| Ollamani, S.A.B. | Operator | Televisa spin-off (2023) that runs the stadium and owns Club América |
| Club América / Mexico NT | Resident Teams | Primary tenants of the stadium |
| Banorte | Naming-Rights Holder & Lender | Bought naming rights in 2025 and financed the renovation — no ownership stake |
The Banorte Naming Rights Deal (2025)
Here’s the twist most fans don’t know. On March 14, 2025, the stadium was officially renamed “Estadio Banorte” after a sponsorship agreement with the Mexican bank Grupo Financiero Banorte. Banorte also stepped in as a lender, providing a loan of roughly 2.1 billion pesos (about $105 million) to help fund the stadium’s major pre-World Cup renovation, to be repaid over more than a decade.
But just like AT&T or MetLife, a naming-rights sponsor is not an owner. Banorte put its name on the building and its money into the renovation, but the ownership still runs through Televisa and Ollamani.
Why It’s Called “Estadio Ciudad de México” at the World Cup
FIFA bans corporate-sponsored stadium names during its tournaments. So even though the venue is legally “Estadio Banorte” in 2025–2026, FIFA took control of the stadium for the event and rebranded it “Estadio Ciudad de México.” If you see “Mexico City Stadium” on the official schedule, that’s the Azteca — just stripped of its sponsor name for the duration of the World Cup.
A Record Third World Cup
This is what makes the Azteca unique on the planet. It hosted the 1970 final, where Pelé’s Brazil produced perhaps the greatest team performance ever, and the 1986 final, the tournament of Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” and “Goal of the Century” against England. In 2026 it becomes the first venue in history to stage matches at three different men’s World Cups — a record no other stadium can claim.
Who Plays at Estadio Azteca?
The stadium’s main resident is Club América, owned through Ollamani, and it is the traditional home of the Mexico national team for major fixtures. That dual identity — club fortress and national shrine — is a big part of why the Azteca is treated as Mexican football’s spiritual home.
Estadio Azteca at the FIFA World Cup 2026
The honor doesn’t get bigger: the Azteca hosts the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, featuring host nation Mexico. It’s one of three Mexican venues, alongside Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. While the final is set for MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the tournament begins in Mexico City. For the full venue lineup, see my FIFA World Cup 2026 stadium ownership guide.
Could the Ownership Ever Change?
The 2023 spin-off of Ollamani was itself a restructuring of how Televisa holds these assets, so the corporate plumbing has already shifted once recently. Still, the Azteca remains firmly within the Televisa–Ollamani orbit, and there’s no indication of an outside sale. The most visible “changes” will keep coming through naming rights and renovations rather than a new owner.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Estadio Azteca?
Grupo Televisa owns Estadio Azteca, and Ollamani, S.A.B. — a 2023 Televisa spin-off that also owns Club América — operates it.
Q2. Why is Estadio Azteca called Estadio Banorte now?
The bank Banorte bought the naming rights in March 2025 and helped fund the renovation. It holds no ownership stake.
Q3. What is the stadium called during the World Cup?
FIFA renamed it “Estadio Ciudad de México” (Mexico City Stadium) for the tournament, because corporate names are banned.
Q4. How many World Cups has Estadio Azteca hosted?
2026 makes it the first stadium ever to host three men’s World Cups — after the 1970 and 1986 tournaments, including both finals.
Q5. What match does Estadio Azteca host in 2026?
It hosts the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, featuring host nation Mexico.
My summary: Grupo Televisa owns Estadio Azteca, Ollamani operates it (and owns Club América), and Banorte holds the naming rights and financed the renovation. For the World Cup, forget all of that — it’s “Estadio Ciudad de México,” and on opening night in 2026 it makes history as the first stadium to host three men’s World Cups.
