MEXICO CITY (AP) – Mexico and Portugal played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night during a warmup match, marking the reopening of the Azteca Stadium after nearly two years of renovations in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.
The iconic stadium, which previously hosted the finals of the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, has been closed since May 2024. It is set to host five matches during the upcoming tournament, including three in the group stage and two in the knockout phase.
Match Highlights
Goncalo Ramos had the most significant opportunity to score in the match, hitting the goalpost in the 26th minute. Despite the lack of goals, both teams showcased their talents in front of a lively crowd.
Coach Insights
Mexico’s head coach, Javier Aguirre, commented on the performance, stating, “Individually, everyone, or almost everyone, responded well. Yes, there are some inconsistencies, which is normal, but I’m happy with the performance.”
Aguirre also noted the impact of injuries, mentioning, “Obviously, I don’t want to ignore the fact that some players are out injured. As I said, there are 12 players who are missing, players who helped us win the Nations League and the Gold Cup.”
Absences in Both Teams
Portugal faced its own challenges with notable absences, including forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Leão, which affected their lineup for the match.
Upcoming Matches
Mexico is set to play against South Africa at the Azteca Stadium on June 11 for the tournament opener. Midfielder Erik Sanchez emphasized the importance of these matches, stating, “For us, it is important to face these types of rivals, who are among the best in the world because it shows us what level we are at. Now we have to think about doing things well against Belgium.”
The Mexican team will also face Belgium next Tuesday at Soldier Field in Chicago, while Portugal is scheduled to compete against the United States at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Portugal will make its World Cup debut on June 17 against the winner of the intercontinental playoff between Jamaica and Congo.
Tragic Incident at the Stadium
In a tragic event, security authorities reported that a fan fell from the second level of the stadium shortly before the match began and died. Local police stated, “An intoxicated fan attempted to climb from the second to the first level by jumping over the outside, causing him to fall to the ground floor.” Despite medical assistance, the fan unfortunately lost his life.
Protests Outside the Stadium
Prior to the match, groups of mothers searching for missing family members staged protests outside the stadium, circumventing city government restrictions that limited access to ticket holders. The Mexican government recently reported identifying signs of life for a third of the country’s 130,000 registered missing persons, a claim that faced criticism from various search groups.