The March 28 friendly between Mexico and Portugal marked the reopening of Estadio Banorte (formerly Azteca) after a $300 million remodel for the 2026 World Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match due to injury but soon resumed training, sparking online memes. The event drew protests, extended public transport, and featured a cashless payment system.
Following preparations detailed in prior coverage—including squad announcements for Mexico under Javier Aguirre (featuring Guillermo Ochoa, César Montes, Raúl Jiménez) and Portugal's lineup led by Roberto Martínez (Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, Gonçalo Guedes)—the match kicked off at 7:00 p.m. on March 28 at Mexico City's Estadio Banorte, now with 87,500 capacity, LED lighting, over 1,200 Wi-Fi 6 antennas, 270 surveillance cameras, sustainable hybrid grass, and a new central tunnel.
Portugal's all-time top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, sidelined by a minor hamstring injury from late February, was absent. Coach Martínez noted it was low-risk, expecting a 1-2 week recovery. Ronaldo shared post-training: “¡Feliz de estar de regreso! Me veo bien” with Al Nassr. His and Lionel Messi's absences led to memes and lower resale ticket prices.
Logistics mirrored pre-event plans: Metro lines 1, 2, and 9 extended to 1:00 a.m., Metrobús service prolonged, and road closures from 1:00 p.m. on key routes like Calzada de Tlalpan and Anillo Periférico. Protests by collectives highlighted remodel disruptions and missing persons cases, including blockades and a 'cascarita' game on Periférico Sur.
The stadium required cashless payments via cards or prepaid options, with bonuses for Banorte customers. A free megapantalla broadcast aired at Zócalo.
