Estadio Azteca Shows Cracks and Sinking Ahead of 2026 World Cup Opener
Worries are growing that cracks and sinking at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City threaten the opening match of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa. Last month’s reopening game saw a tragic fan death, and newly shared video from a recent league fixture shows chunks of concrete falling from even the revamped stands. A sinkhole near the stadium swallowed a delivery truck earlier this year. Mexico City’s rapid subsidence is driven by its location on an ancient lake bed and heavy extraction of groundwater. With five matches set at the historic 72,766-seat arena, including the June 11 opener and a possible last-16 tie, FIFA and NASA are employing advanced radar monitoring to track ground movement.
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