Azteca Stadium residents vs. the 2026 World Cup: They're getting rich at our expense'

"In Santa Ursula Coapa, the most constant sound is no longer that of shouts, cheers, and whistles from the stadium, but that of bulldozers. The neighborhoods surrounding the Azteca Stadium Santa Ursula, Huipulco, and Pedregal de Carrasco are experiencing an accelerated construction frenzy that many residents attribute to the impact of the 2026 World Cup. Mexico City will be one of the three host cities in the country for the tournament, along with Monterrey and Guadalajara."

"The Azteca now called Estadio Banorte for sponsorship reasons the largest in Mexico and the seventh-largest in the world, will also become the first stadium to have hosted three opening World Cup games next June. It is also a venue for concerts and mass events, with a capacity of 83,000, it has set the rhythm of the neighborhood for more than half a century."

Bulldozers have replaced stadium noise as the constant sound across Santa Ursula Coapa, Huipulco, and Pedregal de Carrasco as construction accelerates. Residents link the surge in building and rising property values to Mexico City's role as a 2026 World Cup host. The area has long suffered water shortages, insecurity, and official neglect while many locals work as laborers or merchants. The Azteca, now Estadio Banorte, seats 83,000 and will host three opening World Cup games and other mass events. Neighbors report few local benefits, lack of sports facilities, frequent event disruptions, and unpermitted developments already being advertised online.

Read at english.elpais.com