Estadio Akron is one of the three venues in Mexico designated to host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, starting next month. The stadium will host four matches throughout the competition, all will be group stage fixtures.

The stadium will be renamed Estadio Guadalajara in accordance with FIFA regulations on promotion and sponsorship. It is located in the Mexican city of Zapopan and is home to Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara.

It took six years to complete after construction started in February 2004, opening in July 2010. The project is estimated to cost at least $200 million.

The dream of the Guadalajara Sports Club having its own stadium and being an architectural reference in Mexico came true through the vision of Jorge Vergara, owner of Chivas, who made possible the construction of an enclosure with an avant-garde design that distinguishes it from any other existing in Mexico, the stadium’s website said.

It noted that the task was not easy, different circumstances had to be overcome from the beginning of the project, but the effort materialised into a spectacular work. 

A gala dinner with great personalities from the sports, business and government fields was held on the night of July 29 as a preamble to the opening match on July 30, 2010 between the Sacred Herd and Manchester United.

Estadio Akron is designed to look like a volcano rising from the ground, and large parts of the arena’s exterior are covered with grass, unlike most stadiums built of steel or concrete.

It also features a sustainable design, including rainwater collection systems, natural ventilation and energy-efficient lighting, making it one of the more environmentally friendly stadiums in Latin America.

The stadium’s website listed the arena’s seating capacity at over 46,000, making it an ideal venue for international tournaments. In 2010, the stadium hosted the Copa Libertadores finals, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2011 Pan American Games.

It has a capacity for more than 45,000 spectators and is composed of five levels: two are below the natural terrain, so that only the remaining three levels are visible from the facade.