Gianni Infantino to visit Mexico this week as World Cup preparations intensify
The FIFA president will be present for the reopening of Azteca Stadium against Portugal. He will also attend the playoff matches in Monterrey and Guadalajara.
Gianni Infantino, president of world soccer’s governing body, will travel to Mexico this week to get a firsthand look at preparations for this summer’s World Cup.
According to reporting from ESPN, the FIFA chief will attend Mexico’s match against Portugal, as well as the intercontinental playoff games in Monterrey and Guadalajara.
The reopening of a fully renovated Estadio Azteca will be a landmark moment for Mexican soccer. The iconic stadium — known as the Colossus of Santa Úrsula — is set to host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, meaning global attention will be fixed on every detail of its readiness. Infantino’s visit is aimed at ensuring everything is on track ahead of the venue’s massive international spotlight.
Infantino’s itinerary
Infantino will begin his trip in Monterrey, where he’ll attend the playoff matchups featuring Bolivia, Suriname, and Iraq. From there, he’ll take a charter flight to Guadalajara to watch the games involving New Caledonia, Jamaica, and the Republic of the Congo.
Once the playoff stage wraps up, Infantino is scheduled to leave the country for a separate commitment. He’ll return to Mexico on the 28th — the day of the highly anticipated match against Portugal. That morning, he’ll meet with league executives at the Mexican federation’s High-Performance Center for a luncheon before heading to the stadium to watch Mexico take on Roberto Martínez’s squad.
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