Azteca box owners threaten boycott of World Cup opener amid FIFA access dispute

More than 15,000 seats at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City are at risk of being left empty for the World Cup opening match between Mexico and South Africa, as box owners threaten a boycott over FIFA’s restrictions on their long-standing stadium rights.

Owners of executive boxes at the recently revamped 87,000-capacity venue say they have been barred from selling their seats and supplying food and drinks during the tournament. The dispute centres on FIFA’s standard practice — in place since the 1998 World Cup — of taking full operational control of host stadiums. Box owners argue that when the Azteca was originally built in 1966, their boxes were sold with unrestricted rights for 99 years, covering all sporting events and concerts, including the 1970 and 1986 World Cups.

Roberto Ruano, a representative of the Mexican Association of Box and Grandstand Seat Holders, said the group is prepared to escalate if talks do not materialise. “They are forcing us to accept the support offered by the CNTE,” Ruano said, referring to the National Coordinator of Education Workers union. “If there is no dialogue by Wednesday or Thursday, we will ask for the support of our friends who are also protesting.”

Ruano has appealed directly to both FIFA and Emilio Azcarraga, whose Grupo Ollamani company owns the stadium and Club America. “We are three days away from the World Cup, and we have the CNTE, the transport workers, and many other groups ready to support us if he wants to continue blocking us,” Ruano said. “The stadium management, FIFA, FIFA Mexico, Grupo Ollamani, and Grupo Banorte are refusing to meet with us.”

He added that box and grandstand owners planned to arrive at the stadium on Wednesday at 2pm to deliver food and drinks in line with precautionary measures issued by the Sixth District Judge of Mexico City, warning that notifications would be left under doors if officials refused to accept them.

The 2026 World Cup has faced a series of controversies before a ball has been kicked, including widespread complaints over ticket prices and tensions surrounding the political situation in the United States. Iran’s fans have also had their group-stage ticket allocation revoked, according to the country’s football federation, while Somali referee Omar Artan has been removed from the list of tournament officials.