Infrastructure Gaps at Estadio Azteca Limit Accessibility

As Sports Illustrated México first reported, an investigation into Estadio Azteca's accessibility during the Apertura 2026 season reveals a significant failure in mobility infrastructure. While the venue's official page states the exterior parking lot has a capacity for up to 3,500 vehicles, Sports Illustrated México identified only 10 visually differentiated spaces for people with disabilities across three matches: Cruz Azul-Santos, América-Chivas, and Atlante-Rayados.

This allocation represents just 0.29% of the announced capacity, falling far short of Mexico City's technical regulations. According to the Norma Técnica Complementaria para el Proyecto Arquitectónico, lots with over 1,000 spaces must provide one accessible spot for every 50 spaces. Based on the stadium's 3,500-car capacity, the required reference would be 70 spaces; the 10 identified spots represent only 14% of that benchmark.

Reporting from Sports Illustrated México highlights further systemic failures:

* **Poor Signaling:** Only five of the 10 spots featured the wheelchair pictogram on the ground. One sign was described as tilted, partially hidden, and covered in stickers. * **Operational Confusion:** Staff members, including QR scanners and parking attendants, were unable to explain the mechanism for assigning accessible spots. One attendant simply stated they were occupied during the Atlante-Rayados match. * **Lack of Reservation:** Patrons reported no option to reserve accessible parking in advance, forcing those with mobility impairments to pay general fees (ranging from 400 to 450 pesos) without guaranteed proximity to the stadium.

These deficiencies persist despite Grupo Ollamani, the owner of the property, securing a 2,100 million peso credit from Banorte for remodeling ahead of the 2026 World Cup.