Frank de Boer has played or managed in some of soccer’s famous arenas. And he will soon check off another when Atlanta United, the team he manages, plays Club America in the famed Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
The teams are facing off in the Champions League. The first leg will be in Mexico on March 10 or 11. The second leg will be in Atlanta on March 17 or 18. The dates are scheduled to be announced at 11 a.m. Friday.
“It’s one of those legendary stadiums in the world,” he said. “If a player like me or a coach has never been there, then something’s not right. I have to be there one time. I’m glad I have the possibility not to play, but to coach. It should be a great experience.”
If de Boer came across as slightly arrogant, he’s earned it.
He was capped 112 times by Holland. He played and coached at Ajax. He played for Barcelona. He played for Rangers. He managed, briefly, Inter Milan. He has seen Wembley, Bernabeu, Camp Nou, San Siro, Old Trafford and Anfield, to name a few of the game’s holy grounds.
“For me, Azteca is the same,” he said.
There are at least two Atlanta United players who have competed at Azteca: Brad Guzan with the U.S. men’s national team and Fernando Meza with Necaxa.
While Meza said the quality of pitch isn’t as great as others, the size allows teams like Atlanta United who like to work the ball to play.
But it’s Azteca’s history, size and capacity that make it tremendous.
Built in 1966, it once held almost 120,000 for a game between Brazil and Mexico in 1968. Its capacity now is approximately 88,000.
Brazil, led by Pele, won a World Cup there in 1970.
Argentina, led by Diego Maradona, won a World Cup there in 1986.
“For that history, it means even more to us,” Meza said.
Those are but two of the stadium’s magical memories.
The stadium likely will host its third World Cup in 2026 as part of the joint rights held by Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. Sites and rounds have yet to be announced.
The stadium has hosted Copa Libertadores games, Copa Sudamericana games, FIFA Club World Cup games, NFL games, mega-concerts and the Pope.
It is a bucket list item.
Midfielder Emerson Hyndman visited Azteca with his parents to watch the U.S. play Mexico when he was a boy. He remembers that it was rocking.
“You’ve got to get back there and actually play on the pitch,” Hyndman said.
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