World Cup 2026: Who plays at Estadio BBVA?

Opened to fans in 2015, Estadio BBVA is the home of C.F. Monterrey, who play in Mexico's Liga MX. The 53,500 capacity stadium was specifically built to cater for football, and it is the fourth largest stadium in Mexico and Estadio Azteca, Estadio Olimpico Universitario, and Estadio Jalisco. Estadio BBVA is one of the three Mexican stadiums hosting matches during the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off on June 11. For the tournament, the venue will be referred to as Estadio Monterrey due to FIFA's sponsorship regulations.

C.F. Monterrey

The first match C.F. Monterrey played at Estadio BBVA was against Benfica in the Eusébio Cup on August 2, 2015. Monterrey beat Benfica 3-0 in front of a capacity crowd.

The Clausura Liga MX campaign in 2016 witnessed some famous wins at Estadio BBVA, including the 4-2 semi-final second leg victory against Club América.

A week later, Monterrey contested the first competitive final at the stadium against C.F. Pachuca. After losing the first leg 1-0 away at Pachuca, Monterrey were unable to overturn the deficit, drawing 1-1 against Pachuca at Estadio BBVA. Monterrey were leading the second leg 1-0, however, a 93rd-minute equaliser from Victor Guzman won the tie for Pachuca, breaking Monterrey hearts at their new stadium.

Estadio BBVA witnessed a happier ending in the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League final, as Monterrey won their fourth title against Tigres UANL, drawing 1-1 in the second leg after they won 1-0 away in the first leg.

International football

Estadio BBVA hosted eight matches in the 2022 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, including the final. The United States beat Canada 1-0 in the final in front of a crowd of 17,247.

The average attendance for the other seven matches held at the stadium was 4,241. Jamaica’s 1-0 victory against Costa Rica in the third place match saw 6,889 people attend.

For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Estadio BBVA will host three group stage matches and a round of 32 fixture.

Concerts

Justin Bieber, Coldplay, Bad Bunny, and The Weeknd have performed live at the venue since 2017. In the two nights that Coldplay performed, 112, 262 people attended the stadium.

Estadio BBVA fun facts

• Populous helped to design the stadium and built the grandstands around the ground, so that they are only 34 degrees above the pitch. This is the minimum distance allowed under FIFA regulations.
• The venue picked up a silver certification from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for its eco-friendly design, becoming the first stadium in North America to achieve this.
• There are more premium seating and hospitality options than any other football stadium in Latin America at Estadio BBVA.
• The stadium’s “cantilevered” roof is designed in a bowl shape, covering all four stands to protect spectators and players from the Mexican heat.
• @JoePompliano provides us with another fun fact, showing off the stadium’s picturesque views.

Fun Fact: The stadium's north end was intentionally built 40% higher so that fans can see the Cerro de la Silla mountains.

(h/t @rickie94) pic.twitter.com/6SK6hYfkJs

— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) June 9, 2021

World Cup 2026 fixtures at Estadio BBVA

Estadio BBVA will host four matches at the 2026 World Cup – three group stage fixtures and one Round of 32 knockout tie. The confirmed schedule is:

• June 15: Sweden vs Tunisia (Group F)
• June 21: Tunisia vs Japan (Group F)
• June 25: South Africa vs South Korea (Group A)
• June 30: Round of 32 – Group F winner vs Group C runner-up

The June 20 fixture carries special historical significance – FIFA has confirmed that Tunisia vs Japan will be the 1,000th match in World Cup history. Notably, Estadio BBVA is the only Mexican host stadium that will not see the Mexican national team play, making it the most accessible option for neutral fans looking for an affordable World Cup experience in Mexico