Some stadiums are owned by governments, some by billionaires — and a few are owned by the same company that probably sells you a cold drink. Estadio BBVA in Monterrey is the best example I’ve found: it belongs to one of Latin America’s largest beverage-and-retail empires.
With Monterrey hosting four FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, here is the complete story of who owns Estadio BBVA.
What Is Estadio BBVA?
Estadio BBVA is a modern 53,500-seat stadium in Guadalupe, in the Monterrey metropolitan area of northern Mexico. It opened in 2015 at a cost of around $200 million and is the home of C.F. Monterrey, better known as Rayados. Nicknamed “El Gigante de Acero” (The Steel Giant), it’s widely considered one of the finest stadiums in the Americas. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA calls it “Estadio Monterrey.”
Who Owns Estadio BBVA?
Estadio BBVA is owned by FEMSA — Fomento Económico Mexicano — the Monterrey-based conglomerate behind Coca-Cola FEMSA and the OXXO convenience-store chain. FEMSA also owns the resident club, C.F. Monterrey, which means the stadium and the team sit under the same corporate roof.
That’s a cleaner ownership picture than most venues I research: there’s no city authority, no separate operating company splitting the building from the team. FEMSA built it, FEMSA owns it, and FEMSA’s football club plays in it.
Estadio BBVA Ownership at a Glance
| Party | Role | Key Detail |
|---|---|---|
| FEMSA | Owner | Monterrey conglomerate (Coca-Cola FEMSA, OXXO) that built and owns the stadium |
| C.F. Monterrey (Rayados) | Resident Club | Also owned by FEMSA; the stadium’s primary tenant |
| BBVA | Naming-Rights Holder | Spanish banking group; holds the name only, no ownership |
Who Owns C.F. Monterrey (Rayados)?
Rayados are owned by FEMSA, the same conglomerate that owns the stadium. The company has poured serious money into the club over the years, making Monterrey one of the wealthiest and most consistently competitive teams in Liga MX. Because the owner of the team is also the owner of the building, there’s no landlord-tenant tension here — a rarity among World Cup hosts.
The Naming Rights Story
The stadium carries the name of BBVA, the Spanish banking group (long known in Mexico as BBVA Bancomer), which has held the naming rights since the venue opened. As with every stadium on my list, the bank pays for the name — it doesn’t own the concrete. During the World Cup, the BBVA branding gives way to the neutral “Estadio Monterrey.”
“El Gigante de Acero”: A Stadium Built Like Monterrey
I love this detail. Designed by the global firm Populous, the stadium’s jagged steel roofline was made to echo the peaks of the Sierra Madre — especially Cerro de la Silla, the saddle-shaped mountain that defines Monterrey’s skyline. The metallic exoskeleton is a nod to the city’s identity as Mexico’s industrial heartland, which is exactly how it earned the nickname “The Steel Giant.”
Estadio BBVA at the FIFA World Cup 2026
Monterrey is hosting four matches under the name “Estadio Monterrey,” spanning the group stage and into the knockout rounds. It’s one of three Mexican venues, alongside the historic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. See the complete picture in my World Cup 2026 stadium ownership guide.
Could the Ownership Ever Change?
FEMSA’s ownership is stable, and the stadium is a flagship asset tied directly to its football club. The only realistic change on the horizon is the naming-rights sponsor if the BBVA deal is ever renegotiated. The building itself should remain firmly in FEMSA’s hands.
The Bottom Line
In short: FEMSA owns both Estadio BBVA and C.F. Monterrey, while BBVA simply rents the name. It’s one of the most unified ownership stories of the tournament — and for four matches in 2026, “El Gigante de Acero” becomes “Estadio Monterrey.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Who owns Estadio BBVA?
FEMSA, the Monterrey-based conglomerate behind Coca-Cola FEMSA and OXXO, owns Estadio BBVA — and also owns the resident club, C.F. Monterrey.
Q2. Does the bank BBVA own the stadium?
No. BBVA holds only the naming rights. Ownership belongs to FEMSA.
Q3. What is Estadio BBVA called during the World Cup?
It is referred to as “Estadio Monterrey” during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in line with FIFA’s neutral-naming rules.
Q4. Why is it nicknamed “El Gigante de Acero”?
Its steel roofline was designed to mirror the Sierra Madre mountains around Monterrey, earning it the nickname “The Steel Giant.”
Q5. How many World Cup matches will Monterrey host?
Four matches across the group and knockout stages.