Mexico City
Mexico's capital and largest city, hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match at Estadio Azteca.
Last refreshed: 29 March 2026
Can a city of 21 million host the World Cup's opening match while its residents queue for water?
Latest on Mexico City
- Is Mexico City hosting the 2026 World Cup?
- Yes. Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosts the tournament's opening match (Mexico vs South Africa, 11 June). It is one of three Mexican venues alongside Guadalajara and Monterrey.
- Is there a water crisis in Mexico City?
- Yes. Mexico City faces chronic water scarcity with declining aquifer levels. Southern boroughs near Estadio Azteca already endure rationing, which became a protest flashpoint during the stadium's World Cup renovation.Source:
- What is the population of Mexico City?
- Approximately 21 million in the metropolitan area, making it one of the world's largest cities. It is Mexico's capital and political and economic centre.
Background
Mexico City is the capital and largest city of Mexico, with a metropolitan population of 21 million. Built on a drained lakebed, it faces chronic water scarcity: aquifer levels decline annually and southern boroughs like Coyoacan already endure rationing. The city is also the political and economic centre of a country deploying Plan Kukulkan's 100,000 security personnel for the tournament.
Mexico City hosts Estadio Azteca, the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match venue, which reopened on 28 March after a renovation that drew protests from the Neighbourhood Assembly Against Megaprojects over water scarcity in surrounding boroughs . The stadium passed its final technical tests with 84,130 fans attending the reopening friendly .
The intersection of World Cup infrastructure investment and residents' basic needs defines Mexico City's tournament story. Estadio Azteca received 2,200 square metres of LED screens and a new roof while surrounding communities face water rationing, a tension that will persist throughout the tournament and beyond it.