¡OLÉ, OLÉ, OLÉ! Historic Estadio Jalisco Scores 2026 World Cup Training Gig
Guadalajara's historic Estadio Jalisco, which hosted games in the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, has been officially named a training site for national teams participating in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Dust off those sombreros! The legendary Estadio Jalisco, a cathedral of Mexican soccer dripping with history, is muscling its way back onto the World Cup stage.
Forget hosting actual games this time around – that ship sailed. But Guadalajara's iconic, two-time World Cup host stadium just landed a knockout punch, scoring a gig as an official training ground for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup madness set to sweep North America.
Yeah, you heard that right. While shiny new stadiums might get the marquee matches, the venerable Jalisco – home to epic clashes in both the 1970 and 1986 World Cups – will be where the world's best players lace up their boots and sweat it out before battling for glory in Guadalajara.
The big announcement came straight from the top brass. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus, practically beaming, spilled the beans Tuesday, confirming the old warhorse will welcome national teams flocking to the region for soccer's biggest fiesta.
"We've hammered out a deal, we're united with the clubs here!" Lemus declared, basically saying everyone's on board. "The Estadio Jalisco will be a base for the teams playing here... they can train right there!"
And he made it crystal clear: "We're talking the Mexican National Team, before their games, and the other national squads that come... they're gonna train at Estadio Jalisco, an emblem linked with the '70 and '86 World Cups!"
Boom! History, baby! Pelé strutted his stuff here. Maradona worked his magic nearby. Now, a new generation gets to soak in that legendary vibe. Lemus insisted the deal is DONE and dusted.
Not to be outdone, Aníbal Fajer, the executive director over at Atlas FC – one of the local clubs that calls Jalisco home – was practically buzzing. He confirmed Jalisco is locked in as a "specific training venue" and they're "thrilled" that the "historic property" gets its third taste of World Cup action.
"Look, the Jalisco pitch is gonna be a specific training site before the games they play here in Guadalajara," Fajer gushed, admitting it's not quite the same as hosting a match, but still massive. "It commits us, it gives us tremendous happiness!"
He laid it out plain: "A stadium that hosted two World Cups gets a third participation... even if it's not with a game, the fact that one or more national teams can train on the Jalisco pitch, we think that makes it part of a third World Cup!"
And don't you worry about patchy grass or dodgy lines. Fajer swore they're gonna get the place looking sharp. "That commits us to having the pitch in the best conditions," he promised. "Just tomorrow, we'll have a meeting with the United Clubs of Jalisco to figure out what we're going to do this summer regarding the pitch, to have it in the best conditions."
So, while Estadio Akron (home of Chivas) gets the actual Guadalajara games, the grand old Estadio Jalisco, alongside Club Chivas Verde Valle and Academia Aga, ensures Guadalajara is rolling out the green carpet – literally – for the planet's soccer elite come 2026.
Get ready for some serious training ground action. ¡Vámonos!
