2026 World Cup Stadium Control Raises Legal Battle for Mexican Box Owners at Azteca Stadium

In preparation for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Mexico and the United States, FIFA has requested full control of the participating stadiums 30 days prior to the start of the competition and for seven days afterwards. However, this poses a problem for box owners at Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium, as the rights to their seats were sold to them by Mexican businessman Emilio Azcárraga Milmo during the stadium’s construction in the 1960s. These box owners, including Roberto Ruano, paid 115,000 pesos (approximately $9,000 USD) for the right to use these spaces for 99 years, which includes access to soccer matches, concerts, and other events, such as the 1970 and 1986 World Cups held in Mexico. While some box owners have agreed to release their seats for the 2026 tournament in exchange for upgrades and other benefits, Ruano, who inherited his box, is adamant that the terms of the original agreement be respected. He claims that FIFA did not present any obstacles during the previous World Cups held at Azteca in 1970 and 1986, and that the matter is not up for debate. Emilio Azcarraga Jean, the son of Emilio Azcárraga Milmo and the owner of the stadium through multimedia company Televisa, has stated that a resolution will be reached soon. FIFA has confirmed that discussions regarding fan access and other match details will be revealed at a later date. The cost of these boxes currently sits between 15 million and 25 million pesos ($900,000 to $1.5 million USD), with some being rented out for specific events. The 83,000-seat Azteca Stadium will host five games during the 2026 World Cup, including the opening match. Overall, FIFA is working with all sixteen host cities to develop remodelling plans for Azteca Stadium, which will make history as the first venue to have hosted games in three World Cups.