As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off in Mexico City on June 12, Beijing time, one of the tournament's most recognizable venues was showcasing more than football history.

Azteca Stadium, the world's first stadium to host three FIFA World Cups, has undergone a major digital upgrade with support from Longhua-based visual technology company Leyard. 

A view of Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, which underwent a major digital audiovisual upgrade ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photos courtesy of Leyard

The project delivered approximately 2,200 square meters of digital audiovisual installations throughout the stadium, helping modernize the decades-old venue while preserving its historic character.

Built in the 1960s, Azteca Stadium is regarded as one of the most iconic football venues in the world. According to Leyard, the upgrade was designed to meet the demands of modern international sporting events while respecting the stadium's architectural heritage.

The company provided a customized audiovisual solution based on the stadium's structure, viewing angles and event requirements. The project created a multilayer visual system spanning the interior and exterior of the venue.

Inside the stadium, two main screens with a combined display area of nearly 400 square meters provide live match footage, scores, statistics and replays. Two curved ribbon displays totaling more than 1,000 square meters follow the contours of the stadium, creating a more immersive viewing experience for spectators.

Outside, a giant digital screen covering nearly 650 square meters, together with four large pillar displays, enhances the venue's visibility and supports both event presentation and public communications.

Players celebrate during a match at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, the world's first stadium to host three FIFA World Cups.

The Azteca project is the latest addition to Leyard's portfolio of major international sporting events.

In China, the company provided display technologies for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the immersive visual systems used during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Its technologies have also been deployed at landmark sports venues, including the National Stadium, known as the Bird's Nest, and the National Speed Skating Oval.

Internationally, Leyard has participated in multiple FIFA World Cup-related projects, including the closing ceremony of the 2018 tournament in Russia and event infrastructure projects for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Large-scale LED displays illuminate the FIFA Fan Festival during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Leyard provided visual display solutions for multiple World Cup-related venues and events.

The Azteca Stadium upgrade highlights the growing global presence of technology companies from Longhua, which are increasingly contributing to major international events and infrastructure projects around the world.