We are officially in the home stretch. With just over 100 days left until the kickoff of the largest FIFA World Cup in history, the anticipation is starting to reach a fever pitch. This isn’t just another tournament; it’s a massive 48-team overhaul spanning three nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
From the opening whistle between Mexico and South Africa at the legendary Estadio Azteca to the grand finale on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, rebranded as the “New York New Jersey Stadium” for the summer, the road to the title is going to be a grueling, high-stakes marathon.
Cristiano Ronaldo Headlines the Azteca Reopening
Mexico is about to make history as the first country to host three different World Cups, and the Estadio Azteca, known officially as the Mexico City Stadium for the tournament, is undergoing a massive facelift to celebrate its 60th anniversary and host five World Cup games
While some skeptics wondered if the renovations would wrap up on time, the stadium is ready for its grand “second debut.” The headline event? A blockbuster friendly on March 28 between Mexico and Portugal, led by none other than the Al-Nassr captain and international icon, Cristiano Ronaldo.
For the first time ever, the 80,000-plus fans in the capital will get to see the all-time leading scorer in men’s international football (sitting at a staggering 143 goals) play on Mexican soil. But it’s not just a one-man show; Manager Roberto Martínez is bringing the heavy hitters, including Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha, Nuno Mendes, and Bernardo Silva.
This match is the anchor of a crucial preparation tour, as Portugal will fly to Atlanta just three days later to face the United States.
For Ronaldo and company, the stakes are rising. Portugal is slotted into Group K, starting their campaign against an Inter-confederation Play-off winner on June 17, followed by a clash with Uzbekistan on June 23. It all leads to a massive finale against Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on June 27, a game that will almost certainly decide who walks away with the group lead.
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When Ronaldo steps onto that pitch, he’ll be walking the same grass as the greatest to ever play the game. The Estadio Azteca is essentially a cathedral of football. In 1970, it hosted Pelé as he secured his third World Cup title in the first tournament ever broadcast in color. Sixteen years later, Diego Maradona used the same stage to cement his immortality, scoring both the “Goal of the Century” and the infamous “Hand of God” against England.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival feels like the final piece of the puzzle. As the 2026 World Cup looms, having the world’s most prolific scorer headline the reopening of its most historic stadium is the kind of script that even Hollywood couldn’t write better.
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