Mexico, the first country to host three World Cups: 1970, 1986 and 2026
With the 2026 edition, Mexico becomes the first country to host or co-host three World Cups, and the Estadio Azteca the only stadium to have staged three.
Mexico has written itself into football history by becoming the first country to host or co-host three World Cups. It had already staged the 1970 and 1986 editions on its own, and in 2026 it is part of the host trio alongside the United States and Canada, at the first World Cup shared by three nations.
The symbol of that historic status is the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the only venue on the planet to have hosted three World Cups. Its stands saw the 1970 (Brazil 4-1 Italy) and 1986 (Argentina 3-2 West Germany) finals decided, and in 2026 it once again staged the opening match.
The 2026 edition is also the biggest in history: the first with 48 teams, expanding the previous 32-team format, and spread across 16 host cities — eleven in the United States, three in Mexico and two in Canada.
For the country, the milestone reinforces a World Cup tradition that began more than half a century ago. No other nation had gathered three hosting duties; with 2026, Mexico achieves it and the Azteca confirms its status as one of football's great cathedrals.
Source: Wikipedia (2026 FIFA World Cup; Estadio Azteca).