Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron) Guide Mexico

World Cup 2026 Stadiums: Estadio Guadalajara (Estadio Akron)

Estadio Akron, Mexico. — Estadio Akron, Mexico

Estadio Guadalajara, Guadalajara

Estadio Akron is a modern football stadium located in Zapopan, part of the greater Guadalajara metropolitan area. Opened in 2010, it seats around 49,000 spectators and is the home of Liga MX club C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas).

The stadium has hosted major international matches, including games during the 2011 Pan American Games and Copa Libertadores. Its former names include Estadio Omnilife and Estadio Chivas. During the 2026 tournament it will be known as Estadio Guadalajara and will stage four group games.

These are:

South Korea v Czechia, June 11, Group A (7 pm local time)

Mexico v South Korea, June 18, Group A (7 pm local time)

Colombia v DR Congo, June 23, Group K (8 pm local time)

Uruguay v Spain, June 26, Group H (7 pm local time)

Mexico has three of the 16 World Cup 2026 venue cities. They are Mexico City (Azteca), Guadalajara and Monterrey (BBVA). Canada has two and the USA eleven.

Capacity & History

Opened in 2010, the stadium seats about 49,000 spectators and is home to C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas). Planning began in 2004 and the ground was completed in 2010 after delays due to rising costs. Altogether the stadium cost around US$200 million.

90-minute-long stadium tours are available and include visits to the locker rooms, players' tunnel, pitchside, press room, and the Chivas Museum.

As well as friendly matches of the Mexico national team, the arena has also played host to concerts and boxing matches. In addition, the ground staged the DR Congo v Jamaica 2026 World Cup inter-confederation play-off.

C.D. Guadalajara

Nicknamed 'Chivas' (Goats), C.D. Guadalajara play their home games at the stadium. The club was founded in 1906 as Unión Football Club and play in vertical red and white striped shirts and blue shorts. The red and white colors show in the seating design at the ground.

Chivas was among the ten founding clubs of Mexico's first professional national league, Liga Mayor (now known as Liga MX), established in 1943. Club Deportivo Guadalajara is also one of only seven Mexican teams that have never been relegated.

Chivas is the only football club in Mexico that does not sign foreign or naturalized players unless they are of Mexican descent. The team has traditionally relied on developing its own homegrown talent.

Some famous players to have represented the club include striker Javier Hernández (Chicharito), who spent five years at Manchester United and also played for West Ham United. Chicharito was a member of the Mexico squads at the 2010, 2014 and 2018 World Cups. Carlos Vela played for Arsenal and briefly WBA in England before establishing himself in Spain and centre back Carlos Salcido who had two years at Craven Cottage with Fulham.

Other stars include goalkeeper Oswaldo Sánchez who made over 270 appearances for Chivas, legend Omar Bravo who scored over 160 goals in three spells in Guadalajara and is the leading all-time goalscorer for the club, overtaking Salvador Reyes and also the leading appearance holder.

Mentions too to midfielder Ramón Morales who both played for and worked as a coach with Chivas and prolific forward Salvador Reyes who was a huge star in the 1950s and 1960s. Reyes also played for Mexico in three World Cups in 1958, 1962, and 1966.

Chivas USA, a subsidiary of the Mexican club, played in Major League Soccer (MLS) from 2005 to 2014. Based in the Los Angeles area they played home games at the StubHub Center (now Dignity Health Sports Park) in Carson, California. The club was dissolved in 2014 and was later replaced by Los Angeles FC.

Altogether Chivas has won 12 Liga MX titles and counting, 4 Copa MX trophies, 7 Campeón de Campeones titles, and 1 Supercopa MX. It also holds the league record for the longest winning streak at the start of a season, with 8 straight victories in the Bicentenario 2010. Internationally, it has claimed 2 CONCACAF Champions Cup/Champions League titles and finished as runner-up in the 2010 Copa Libertadores.

Access

Situated about 10-12 km west of central Guadalajara, the ground is accessible by car via Avenida Vallarta and the Periférico ring road, with on-site parking available; taxis and rideshare services are common, and public buses serve nearby routes, though travel times can increase significantly on match days.

To get to Estadio Akron by public transport, take the Mi Macro Periférico bus to the "Estadio Chivas" station. From there, walk 15 minutes along the designated "Andador Chivas" pedestrian walkway to the stadium.

The closest airport to Guadalajara Stadium (Estadio Akron) is Guadalajara International Airport (Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla International Airport; GDL). The airport is about 20 km away on the opposite side of the city.

Address: Av. Circuito JVC 2800, El Bajío, 45019 Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico.

Accessibility

Estadio Guadalajara provides good accessibility for wheelchair users, featuring step-free access, designated seating areas, and tailored facilities designed for inclusivity. The venue offers 79 accessible parking spaces in the general lot, along with wide concourses, improved lifts, and accessible restrooms throughout the stadium.