Mayra Madrigal
Soccer would not be the same if teams did not have a home stadium for their matches, and larger stadiums are often intimidating to opponents. From the very beginning, teams have been able to take advantage when they play as locals, but above all, teams become stronger with the support of their fans in the stands.
There are stadiums that weigh more than others, some that impose their own history and paralyze the rivals, and others that end up being the second home of the visiting team. In Mexico there are 17 First Division stadiums and all of them have different dimensions. Which are the largest stadiums in Liga MX?
1.- Azteca Stadium
The Azteca Stadium is the biggest stadium in Mexico and is considered the most important. It is home of the Mexican National Team, Club America and Cruz Azul. It has hosted World Cup finals, Olympic Games, Confederations Cup and youth World Cups (U17 and U20). As if that were not enough, it is the stadium that has witnessed the most World Cup matches (19), including what is considered the match of the century between Italy and Germany in the 1970 World Cup, which was won 4-3 by the tango team.
Pele (1970) and Diego Armando Maradona (1986) were world champions here, and for this reason it is considered a temple in the world of soccer. It has undergone several modifications in recent years, but once held up to 120,000 spectators. It currently has a capacity of 87,000 spectators.
2.- Olympic University Stadium
This stadium was also named Ciudad Universitaria (University City) because it is part of the country’s highest educational institution, the Autonomous University of Mexico (Universidad Autónoma de México). Although it was built in 1952 as a multi-purpose field for the University, it is the home of the Pumas.
It was the main venue for the 1968 Olympic Games, so the opening and closing ceremonies were held here, as well as the track and field events. It also hosted four matches in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and is the second-largest stadium in the country, with a capacity of 72,000 spectators.
3.- Jalisco Stadium
The Jalisco Stadium is the biggest stadium in the interior of the country, as it is located in Guadalajara, and is the third-largest stadium in Mexico. It hosted World Cup matches in the two World Cups organized by Mexico in 1970 and 1986. It has also hosted the Olympic Games, Confederations Cup, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, among others.
It had been home to Guadalajara, Oro, Nacional and Jalisco, but is currently the home stadium for Atlas and Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalajara of the Expansion League. It has a capacity for 56,713 spectators.
BBVA Stadium
This is the home field of the Rayados de Monterrey, better known as the “Steel Giant”, and was created in 2015, so it is just writing its history. It is the second “newest” stadium in Liga MX, the first being the Kraken in Mazatlan. It is also the fourth-biggest stadium in the country, with a capacity of 53,500 spectators.
It was inaugurated on August 2, 2015, with an international match in the eighth edition of the Eusébio Cup in which Monterrey and Benfica of Portugal faced each other, in a match that ended 3-0. It is one of the most modern stadiums in the country and is among the stadiums chosen to host matches for the 2026 World Cup.
