England enter the Azteca - where football kings are crowned
BBC Sport explores the history and cultural power of the Azteca, one of the great cathedrals of world football, as England prepare to face Mexico there in the last 16 of the World Cup.
Coverage by Political Leaning
See how different sides of the spectrum reported this story
Notable Quotes
"There is just something very special about Azteca."
— Pele , Athlete
"While I had a great passion for architecture, I had an even bigger passion for football."
— Pedro Ramirez Vazquez , Academic
"It is next to impossible to communicate on the pitch because the Azteca is full of sound swirling all around you."
— Jason de Vos , Athlete
Key People
Jason de Vos is a retired Canadian footballer who played professionally and later became a coach.
Diego Maradona was an iconic Argentine football player known for his extraordinary skill and controversial life.
Pedro Ramirez Vazquez was a renowned Mexican architect known for designing major sports venues.
Pele is a legendary Brazilian footballer widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.
Locations
All Coverage
BBC Sport explores the history and cultural power of the Azteca, one of the great cathedrals of world football, as England prepare to face Mexico there in the last 16 of the World Cup.
Similar Stories
Related coverage based on topic and tags
England beat Wales to finish top of World Cup pool
England underline their credentials as potential Hockey World Cup winners by sealing top spot in Pool D with an 8-2 win over Wales.
August 19, 2026 at 12:41 PMChampionship excellent place to discover talent - Espanyol's Monchi
Espanyol sporting director Monchi explains why he believes England's Championship is an undervalued source of talent, and outlines his ambitions to restore Espanyol to the top end of Spanish football.
August 15, 2026 at 07:24 PMMore history made at Croke Park as Man Utd beat Leeds
Less than a month after Mayo's historic win in the All-Ireland final at Croke Park, a stadium that is famous for sliotars and the Sam Maguire turned its attention to one of the oldest rivalries in English football.
August 12, 2026 at 10:37 PMGB women top group as they aim to book Olympic spot
The Great Britain women's team progress as group winners as they aim to secure an Olympic spot at the flag football World Championships.
August 14, 2026 at 05:32 PMThree clubs, six derbies as Welsh rivals collide
The new Championship season sees Cardiff City, Swansea City and Wrexham competing together in the second tier for the first time in 45 years.
August 14, 2026 at 03:48 AMAlgorithms amplified World Cup racism, says report
Racist abuse aimed at England footballers on social media was amplified during the World Cup by algorithms designed to maximise engagement and profit, according to new research.
August 19, 2026 at 11:02 PM