Opened in 1966, Azteca is a legendary venue absolutely dripping in lore - a monument to football itself that is about to seize a unique “triple crown” of being the first stadium in history to host the opening match of three different World Cups (1970, 1986 and 2026). 

It used to hold over 100,000 spectators until the collective realisation hit that maybe safety should be a thing. The current capacity is still a healthy 87,000.

It’s currently undergoing $180m of renovations to get it ready for the 2026 World Cup. 

Both Diego Maradona and Pele have lifted the coveted trophy on its grass, and England fans will remember it as the venue where Diego Maradona scored his notorious “Hand of God” goal. 

It’s also the stadium that witnessed the incredible 1970 World Cup semi-final between West Germany and Italy, where Italy triumphed in extra time by 4 goals to 3. 

But Azteca is special for another reason, too. And the reason might surprise you.

The physics lesson

It’s not an easy stadium to play at, and not just because of the weight of that history on the players’ shoulders. The stadium sits at 7,350ft above sea level, meaning the air is significantly thinner than players might expect if they are accustomed to playing at sea level. 

In athletic terms, it can reduce VO2 Max by up to 13%, meaning players are going to have a hard time recovering. 

In physics and aerodynamic terms, that also reduces drag. The ball will travel around 3-5 yards further when played through the air, causing chaos for keepers and elite players as they struggle to judge the movement of the ball. 

It also means that the ball might travel faster and straighter than players who are accustomed to curving the ball might expect, so we might see some long-range thunderbastards, to use a technical term. 

Something called The Magnus Effect also governs how players are able to “Bend it like Beckham”. As a ball spins, it creates a pressure differential on its two sides, which causes it to curve. But with less air resistance, the ball is less “gripped” by the air and curves significantly less.

Players who are unfamiliar with this might suddenly see their shots becoming wayward. And those who embrace the characteristics may be able to use it to their favour.

All that considered, you can quickly see why this place has all of the elements required to be a legendary tournament venue.

Our verdict: 

Expect the unexpected. Thunderbastards, unusual curves, wild misses and the potential for goalkeepers to end up with egg on their faces.