Legendary World Cup stadiums: Maracanã, Azteca and Wembley
Three temples of football have shaped World Cup history. The Azteca will make history in 2026 by hosting matches at its third World Cup.
A World Cup is not remembered only for its protagonists, but also for the settings where history unfolds. Three stadiums have become true temples of World Cup football.
Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã was built for the 1950 World Cup and did so in style: its final between Uruguay and Brazil drew an enormous crowd and ended in the «Maracanazo», the defeat that plunged an entire country into silence. Decades later, rebuilt, it hosted a World Cup final again in 2014.
Mexico City's Estadio Azteca is the only one to have hosted two World Cup finals, in 1970 and 1986. On its turf shone Pelé's Brazil and, sixteen years later, a Maradona who produced there the «Hand of God» and the «Goal of the Century». In 2026 it takes a unique step in history: it will be the first stadium to host matches at three different World Cups.
Wembley, in London, was the stage for England's only world title. In 1966, with its iconic twin towers, it saw Geoff Hurst's hat-trick in the final against West Germany, including the eternal «ghost goal» still debated today. The old stadium gave way in 2007 to a modern arena with its recognisable arch.
Maracanã, Azteca and Wembley are far more than sporting venues: they are the memory of a tournament built in concrete, one that in 2026 will add new mythical stadiums to the list.
Source: Wikipedia (Estádio do Maracanã; Estadio Azteca; Wembley Stadium).