Name: Azteca Stadium to host World Cup opener for third time
Uploaded: 2025-12-06T07:25:55.209Z
Duration: 2 min 45 s
Description: The historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is undergoing its largest renovation since it was built in 1966, in preparation to become the first stadium in the world to host three World Cup opening matches.

The historic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is undergoing its largest renovation since it was built in 1966, in preparation to become the first stadium in the world to host three World Cup opening matches.

Mexico City

Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is undergoing its largest renovation since opening in 1966, with over $150 million invested to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The upgrades include a new hybrid pitch, additional seating, and advanced digital systems, making it the only stadium to host three World Cup opening games.

Despite the improvements, some residents in nearby neighborhoods have raised concerns about the allocation of resources and potential displacement. They argue that infrastructure upgrades are focused on the World Cup rather than addressing longstanding local needs, such as access to water and basic services.

Azteca Stadium to host World Cup opener for third time

A much-needed makeover for Mexico's historic Azteca Stadium, soon to be the only venue to ever host three World Cup opening games. This 60-year-old stadium in Mexico City, the largest in Latin America, hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cups. Next year, football fans and players alike will be welcomed by a new hybrid pitch, a new dugout and canopy, an extra 4,000 seats and a state-of-the-art digital interactive system, rivaling those of the best stadiums around the world. But beyond the technological improvements the stadium's director insists, the revamp will strive to keep what has always kept this place close to the heart of Mexican football fans. It's like a live institution, no? It means the way it's built, the way it sounds when it's crowded, the way you feel. And the most important thing is I think most of the Mexicans have a story to tell about the stadium. It was here, after all, that Brazilian great Pelé won his last World Cup in 1970. And 16 years later, where Argentine player Diego Maradona won his first. This is the largest renovation project that this iconic stadium, known here as just the Azteca, has undergone since being built in 1966. It has taken more than $150 million in investment and nearly two years of work. But not everyone around here is thrilled about this project. 33-year-old Natalia Lara has lived her whole life in the vicinity of the stadium, mostly poor neighborhoods that have historically lacked regular access to basic services. She leads a collective of neighbors who are increasingly concerned that the World Cup is going to further complicate their lives. Already, she says, the government has granted the stadium owners a concession to pump water from an underground aquifer on the property, which should supply water to the adjacent neighborhoods. Those of us who live around the stadium don't feel that euphoria about the World Cup. On the contrary, we feel dispossession and displacement. We see the infrastructure work taking place around mobility, drainage, clean water, but it's all focused on the World Cup, leaving us without those services. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has said the World Cup infrastructure upgrades will leave a lasting legacy for everyday life in Mexico, but many in this city aren't so sure it will be a positive one. Julia Galeano, Al Jazeera, Mexico City.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's vaccine advisory panel voted to change the recommendation for when children should get their first dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Meg Oliver has more.

Washington

Shift in decades-long guidance on hepatitis B vaccine

Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday at an annual summit and agreed to diversify mutual economic ties, as the United States presses India to revise its decades-old partnership with Russia.

Delhi

Russia-India sign trade agreements despite pressure from the West

It's a deal described as the beginning of a new path to peace. Leaders from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have signed an agreement aiming to end the long-running conflict in eastern DRC. U.S. President Donald Trump hosted the leaders in Washington, DC.

DR Congo-Rwanda peace deal: Leaders sign accord alongside U.S.

The Pentagon announced another strike against an alleged drug-carrying boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean. This comes as lawmakers react to a classified briefing on the controversial Sept. 2 strikes targeting a vessel near Venezuela.

Pentagon announces new boat strike

New evidence was presented in court in connection with the case against Luigi Mangione, the man accused of shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. CBS News' Katrina Kaufman reports.

Manhattan

New evidence shared in Luigi Mangione's pre-trial hearing

Israel has been cleared for the 2026 Eurovision song contest after the European Broadcasting Union said most members did not want a vote on participation, prompting four countries — the Netherlands, Ireland, Spain and Slovenia — to boycott the competition over the war in Gaza.

Israel’s Eurovision participation triggers boycotts

Honduran presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla said U.S. President Donald Trump’s last-minute support for rival Nasry Asfura hurt his chances in the country’s closely fought election.

Tegucigalpa

Honduras' Nasralla: Trump's influence damaged my election chances

A northern Virginia man was arrested and accused of placing two pipe bombs outside the Democratic National Committee and Republican National Committee headquarters on the eve of the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Scott MacFarlane has details.

FBI arrests suspect in 2021 D.C. pipe bomb case

A grand jury has rejected the Department of Justice's attempt to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James. CBS News legal contributor Jessica Levinson has reaction.

Grand jury rejects DOJ's attempt to re-indict Letitia James

The New York Times has sued the U.S. Defence Department and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in an effort to force the Pentagon to abandon its restrictive new press policy. The Times alleges that the policy, rejected by at least 30 news organizations, violates its rights to free speech and due process.

New York

New York Times sues Pentagon, Hegseth over press restrictions

President Trump weighed in on Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner. CBS News' Ramy Inocencio has more.

Moscow

Ukraine Invasion

Trump insists Putin wants to end Ukraine war after Witkoff's trip

Democrats have released never-before-seen images in the Jeffrey Epstein case. They were taken at his private island estate. It comes as the Trump administration faces a deadline to release the full Epstein case files in two weeks.

Newly released images and videos show Epstein's private island estate

Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves, more than five times more than the United States.

Caracas

Maduro accuses U.S. of pushing for regime change to get Venezuela’s oil

Australia starts enforcing a landmark ban requiring social media platforms to take down accounts belonging to under-16s

Canberra

Australia under-16s social media accounts to be taken down

European Union lawmakers and member states reached a deal to ban all imports of Russian gas before the end of 2027, as the bloc seeks to choke off key funds feeding Moscow's war chest. Aimed at breaking a reliance the bloc has struggled to end despite the invasion of Ukraine, the accord marks a compromise between EU capitals and the European Parliament, which wanted the ban to hit sooner.

Brussels

EU agrees deal to ban Russian gas by end of 2027

President Trump pardoned Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife on Wednesday. The couple was indicted in 2024 on more than a dozen federal charges. Cuellar has denied any wrongdoing.

Trump pardons Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar and his wife

Sources say the Pentagon watchdog found Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could have endangered American service members when he shared military information in a Signal group chat in March. Alex Plitsas, a former Pentagon official, joins "The Daily Report" to discuss.

Watchdog found Hegseth jeopardized sensitive military information

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee Wednesday released never-before-seen images of the private island owned by convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News legal reporter Katrina Kaufman has more details.

Never-before-seen images of Jeffrey Epstein's island released

The doctor who pleaded guilty to selling ketamine to Matthew Perry in the weeks before the actor's overdose death has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.

Los Angeles

Doctor who sold Matthew Perry ketamine sentenced to 30 months in prison

Google subsidiary YouTube has criticized an Australian law banning social media accounts for under-16s, arguing the legislation set to start Dec 10 makes young users of Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube less safe.

YouTube attacks Australia's underage social media ban

U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff met Putin in the Kremlin on a revised Ukraine peace plan but left without a deal. Russia insists on territorial gains, army cuts, and blocking NATO membership, while Zelenskyy calls for long-term deterrence against future aggression.

U.S. envoys Kushner, Witkoff leave Kremlin without Ukraine deal

U.S. President Donald Trump, in a televised cabinet meeting, said “I don't want them in our country” about Somali immigrants, sparking outrage from politicians and migration experts. His remarks coincided with reports of planned federal raids targeting Minneapolis’ Somali community.

Trump targets Somali immigrants amid reports of Minneapolis raids

A Russian tanker carrying sunflower oil was hit by a drone off the Turkish coast, with no casualties. The attack is part of recent strikes on Russian-flagged vessels targeting Moscow’s oil sector, while Putin warns of possible retaliatory measures.

Russian tanker attacked off Turkey, Putin warns of retaliation

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he had watched the first U.S. strike in September on an alleged drug-smuggling vessel in real time, but did not see survivors in the water or the second lethal strike that he described as being carried out in the "fog of war."

Hegseth says he didn't see survivors before second strike on boat

Republican comfortably beats Democratic challenger after polls showed candidates in a close race in US state.

Tennessee

Trump’s pick Van Epps wins special election in deep-red Tennessee

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to expand his crackdown on drug trafficking during a cabinet meeting, suggesting he’d order land strikes on Venezuela and attacks on any country transporting illegal drugs into the U.S.

Trump threatens to expand strikes beyond Venezuela

Ahead of a meeting to discuss the U.S. proposal for peace in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed European counter-proposals as 'unacceptable' and said his country was ready for war if Europe wants one.

Putin says Russia is 'ready' if Europe wants war

OpenAI has declared a "code red" as Google threatens to unseat the AI industry's early leader, according to the Wall Street Journal. Technology journalist Jacob Ward joins CBS News to discuss.

California

OpenAI declares 'code red' as Google threatens its AI lead

Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Tuesday (December 2) for talks on a possible way to end the deadliest European conflict since World War Two.

Putin meets Trump envoys Witkoff, Kushner for Ukraine peace talks

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the deadly boat strikes in the region near Venezuela and Colombia have "only just begun." This comes as Republicans and Democrats in Congress question the legality of the military action.

Breakdown