Less than a year away from hosting the FIFA World Cup 2026, the three stadiums—the Azteca in Mexico City, BBVA in Monterrey, and Akron in Guadalajara—are undergoing significant transformation.
According to Eduardo Orozco, the regional business director of Trimble for Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean, these three venues are employing various construction technologies to expedite renovation processes and meet delivery deadlines.
Digitalization Drives Stadium Renovations
Eduardo Orozco, a director at Trimble specializing in construction technology solutions, explains that digitalization has been crucial in ensuring efficiency, traceability, and precision from design to execution in projects like the 2026 FIFA World Cup stadiums.
The digitalization applied to these projects is supported by Trimble’s Tekla suite of solutions, establishing a new standard for complex projects in Latin America.
Building Information Modeling (BIM)
The foundation of the renovation projects lies in the BIM (Building Information Modeling) methodology, a system that incorporates 100% digital collaborative tools for project managers to anticipate errors, reduce waste, and enhance safety during execution.
Stadium Renovation Updates
Estadio Azteca (Estadio Banorte)
The renovation of the Azteca Stadium, which will be renamed Estadio Banorte, includes integrating tools like ProjectSight and Trimble Connect to achieve multidisciplinary coordination, real-time traceability, and rigorous document control.
Given that the stadium was built decades ago, the challenge has been to modernize it while preserving its historical essence. These solutions allow for precise intervention in a historic structure, which will host the opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
Estadio BBVA
Located in Monterrey, Nuevo León, the BBVA Stadium was designed from its foundations using BIM technology, specifically Trimble Structures, making it a pioneer in digital modeling in Mexico.
Currently, improvements are being made that include installing an underground ventilation and drainage system to enhance its functionality and sustainability.
Estadio Akron
The Akron Stadium in Guadalajara, Jalisco, was also conceived using digital tools from its initial design phase. This resulted in high levels of construction efficiency and precision.
Today, it stands out as the first stadium in Mexico with a FIFA Quality Pro certified hybrid turf, along with LED lighting, immersive sound, and high-speed Wi-Fi, making it one of the most advanced venues in the country.
Impact of Digitalization
“Digitalizing processes and enabling real-time collaboration for large projects like the 2026 FIFA World Cup stadiums connects all project actors in a single source,” Orozco asserts. “This not only reduces errors and rework but also directly impacts project profitability.”
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of these stadium transformations? The renovations aim to modernize the venues while preserving their historical essence, ensuring they meet the requirements for hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Which technologies are being used in these projects? Various construction technologies, supported by Trimble’s Tekla suite of solutions and the Building Information Modeling (BIM) methodology, are being employed to ensure efficiency, traceability, and precision.
- Why is digitalization important for these projects? Digitalization ensures better collaboration, reduces errors and rework, and has a direct impact on project profitability.
- What makes the Akron Stadium unique? The Akron Stadium is the first in Mexico with a FIFA Quality Pro certified hybrid turf, along with advanced LED lighting, immersive sound, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
