Estadio Azteca makes history again, but not everyone is welcome

Vicky Juárez de Martínez, a taco vendor whose family has operated near Estadio Azteca for generations, surveys her neighborhood, now cordoned off and under strict access controls for the World Cup. "Outside the stadium, we could move freely. There were no restrictions. Now they have closed down our entire neighborhood. I need a pass to get around," she says, a stark contrast to the vibrant atmosphere when Mexico last hosted the tournament in 1986.

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Outside the stadium, we could move freely. There were no restrictions. Now they have closed down our entire neighborhood. I need a pass to get around.

Her family, accustomed to selling up to 150 tacos and beer during Club América matches, faces new FIFA regulations. This year, alcohol sales are banned, and they are forbidden from setting up a television to broadcast games, facing fines if they do. "Tacos and beer go together. Now it's just tacos," Vicky remarks with a shrug. She criticizes FIFA's treatment of locals, stating, "For me, football is adrenaline. It's a party. But FIFA wants the party to be inside the stadium. Not out here where we can't afford a ticket."

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Tacos and beer go together. Now it's just tacos.

The exorbitant ticket prices, with opening match seats reaching 20,000 pesos, four times the recommended monthly salary in Mexico, effectively exclude the local population. "Only rich foreigners will be able to afford to see the premiere. It's so wrong. We Mexicans are a passionate people. We love football and celebration. With such high prices and many restrictions, it won't be fun," Vicky laments.

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For me, football is adrenaline. It's a party. But FIFA wants the party to be inside the stadium. Not out here where we can't afford a ticket.

Domingo Álvarez, who attended the 1970 World Cup final at the same stadium, recalls a different era. Inaugurated in 1966, the Estadio Azteca was once one of the world's largest arenas. Álvarez remembers the "immense feeling" of being in the stadium for Mexico's draw against the Soviet Union and witnessing Pelé's legendary performance in the final. This experience inspired him to become a journalist. He notes how Mexico stepped in to host the 1985 tournament after Colombia withdrew, and how Televisa's owner convinced FIFA president João Havelange that Mexico could still host despite the devastating 1985 earthquake.

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Only rich foreigners will be able to afford to see the premiere. It's so wrong. We Mexicans are a passionate people. We love football and celebration. With such high prices and many restrictions, it won't be fun.