Bishop Javier Acero, Augustinian Recollect and auxiliary bishop of Mexico, blesses the renovated Banorte Stadium, which will host the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
A renovated stadium for fraternity and peace
The Banorte Stadium —the current name of the historic Azteca Stadium— was blessed during its reopening this Saturday, March 28, in a ceremony presided over by Bishop Francisco Javier Acero, OAR, auxiliary bishop of the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico.
This emblematic venue will be the stage for the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for June 11, 2026, when Mexico faces South Africa (Group A, 1:00 PM UTC -6).
During the ceremony, the Augustinian Recollect bishop emphasized the symbolic value of the stadium as a meeting space, noting that it should be a place that fosters “unity, fraternity, and peace” through sports.
“Only as a team can we be artisans of peace”
Bishop Acero wished to emphasize the community nature of sports, stating clearly:
“Only as a team can we be artisans of peace”.
In his speech, he highlighted that sports, when lived authentically, transcend the merely competitive and become a school of humanity. In this sense, he recalled the teaching of Benedict XVI on the formative value of sports, underlining that it demands virtues such as loyalty, discipline, humility, and respect.
The Augustinian Recollect also recognized the collective effort that made the stadium’s renovation possible, from the construction workers to the technical teams, highlighting that this shared work is already a sign of communion and dedication.
Faith and sports: an alliance that humanizes
The blessing of the stadium highlights the deep relationship between faith and sports. Bishop Acero explained to Recoletos.org that sports help to develop the person integrally and can be a path toward transcendence.
He recalled that even in the world of football, faith is expressed in simple but significant ways: from the sign of the cross to gestures of thanksgiving after a match. These expressions reflect that the spiritual dimension is part of the daily life of athletes.
Likewise, he insisted that sports must contribute to disarming violence and generating a culture of respect and sensitivity toward the harshest social realities.
A space for prayer in the heart of the stadium
Among the new features of the renovated Banorte Stadium is a chapel, located in a restricted internal area, designed as a place of reflection for players and technical teams.
Presided over by an image of the Virgin of Guadalupe —blessed by Saint John Paul II in 1999— this space offers an environment conducive to prayer and silence before taking the field.
This concrete sign reflects the desire to spiritually accompany athletes, helping them to live out their role as role models for society, especially for young people, with responsibility.
The 2026 World Cup: an opportunity to build bridges
With an eye on the 2026 World Cup, Bishop Acero emphasized the role that faith can play in promoting values such as respect, unity, and peace.
In a global context marked by tensions and violence, sports —and football in particular— can become a privileged space for building fraternal relationships and the integral development of the person.
The bishop invited ecclesial communities, educational institutions, and pastoral agents to become actively involved in initiatives linked to sports as a way to steer young people away from violence and offer them horizons of hope.
“Only as a team can we be artisans of peace.” 🫶
At the reopening of the Banorte Stadium (formerly Azteca Stadium) this Saturday, March 28, Bishop Francisco Javier Acero, Auxiliary Bishop of the Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico, called for this new stadium to be a place that… pic.twitter.com/8CU4mtJGYC
— Primatial Archdiocese of Mexico (@ArquidiocesisMx) March 28, 2026
