Details continue to emerge about the venues for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Estadio Monterrey: A Key Venue
Estadio Monterrey, located in Guadalupe, Mexico, will be a host venue for the 2026 World Cup. The stadium will host four games: three group-stage matches and a round of 32 game. The round of 32 game is likely to feature the Netherlands.
The stadium’s designers call it “the most advanced stadium in Latin America”.
Known as Estadio BBVA, it’s sponsored by a Spanish bank. The sponsorship deal was recently renewed for a further five years until 2030.
A Stadium With a View
The stadium is sometimes referred to as the ‘Gigante de Acero’ — ‘Steel Giant’ — because of its futuristic exterior. The exterior is made from aluminium and rolled steel. The designers say the ground’s distinctive shape was inspired by brewing equipment, paying tribute to the city’s industrial heritage.
The Estadio BBVA is one of the most recently built stadiums at this World Cup, having opened 11 years ago. It provides sweeping views of the Cerro de la Silla.
Stadium Facts and Figures
- The stadium is usually known as the Estadio BBVA.
- It opened 11 years ago.
- It cost around $200million (£148million at current exchange rates) to build.
Iconic Footballing Moments
The biggest football moments have been Clasicos Regiomontanos — referring to the mountainous region around Monterrey — between fierce rivals Rayados and Tigres. Tigres lifted the Apertura championship title at Monterrey’s home ground in December 2017 with a 2-1 win on the night (3-2 on aggregate) in front of 51,384 fans. Rayados got their revenge two years later in the CONCACAF Champions League final, beating Tigres 2-1 on aggregate after the second leg at their home ground.
The U.S.-founded firm Populous — responsible for sports grounds across the world including Wembley, Yankee Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — designed it with local architects VFO.
Monterrey will host four games at the tournament.