The first anniversary of the World Cup, Mexico faces difficulties in preparation, and the opening match of the stadium is renovated to cause trouble

The opening of the 2026 World Cup is only one year away. As the first country in history to host the World Cup three times, Mexico's preparations are entering a critical stage. However, the ideal of creating a football event is colliding fiercely with the real challenges of renovating the iconic stadium of Aztec. Under the Mexican football temple where Bailey shines in 1970 and Maradona staged the "Hand of God" in 1986, the construction team is working hard to bring the legendary stadium into the 21st century. The task is arduous and of great significance - the Aztec Stadium (now known as Bennot Stadium) has been selected to host the opening game of this World Cup, and the global attention will focus on Mexico from the first game.

It is reported that the renovation project aims to increase the stadium capacity from 87,000 to 90,000. The core of the upgrade is to meet FIFA requirements, including building a new locker room, upgrading the reception area, renovating the VIP area, and adding seats to the original private rooms and lounge areas. Although government and Football Association officials have regarded the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has triggered a crisis of trust among developers, local residents and other stakeholders. The stadium manager announced in February this year that it had obtained a line of credit of 2.1 billion pesos from Mexican financial group Banorte, at the cost of renaming the stadium to "Bannot Stadium".

According to FIFA regulations, the stadium will use the neutral name "Mexico City Stadium" during the World Cup. However, the commercial naming has triggered a strong backlash among some fans, criticizing the move for sacrificing the traditional legacy of football for commercial interests. The name change storm is only part of the growing tension. FIFA announced it would requisition seats for box holders during the World Cup, angering some box owners with decades of access, who have threatened legal action. A member of the Mexican Box Holders Association has taken the lead in filing a legal lawsuit to defend his rights. Outside the stadium wall, there are also deep public grievances. Residents of San Ursula and surrounding communities are worried that the promised improvement of infrastructure such as pedestrian bridges and transportation routes will not fundamentally solve the problems of insufficient lighting, water shortages and long-term traffic congestion. In contrast, the other two host cities, Guadalajara and Monterrey, have less preparatory pressure. Guadalajara has 48,000 modern stadiums that were opened in 2010 and has successfully held major events such as the 2011 Pan American Games. The 53,500-seat venue in Monterrey was completed in 2015 and only needs a minor upgrade, with the focus on replacing the turf and installing the stadium ventilation and oxygen supply system. The construction of the stadium is in full swing, and the national team's journey is also critical. Aguirre is leading Mexico team to prepare for the defending title match this summer, will face Türkiye this week, and will also have a friendly match with Japan and South Korea in September. The tragic experience of being eliminated in the World Cup in Qatar has made Mexican fans expect far more than an excellently organized event. They long for the national team to break the long-troubled "Fifth Game Curse" and once again entered the quarterfinals since the 1986 Domestic World Cup.