World Cup venues: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Just over 107,000 people packed into the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for its inaugural game on 29 May pitting Club America against the Italian side Torino.
Some 60 years later and with a maximum capacity at 87,000 fans, the arena will be the stage for the opening game of the 2026 World Cup between Mexico and South Africa.
At 2,200m above sea level, the Azteca sits in a realm of its own among the Mexican stadiums at the World 2026 Cup.
It is 700m higher than the stadium in Guadalajara and more than 1,600m higher than the Estadio BBVA in Monterrey.
In an interview with the African footballconfederation's wesbite just after the draw was announced, the South Africa boss Hugo Broos outlined a triple challenge of fervent fans, host nation in the opening game and the altitude.
“It's not an easy group for us," Broos said. "It will be very difficult for us there."
Games at the Estadio Azteca
After the opening game, World Cup debutants Uzbekistan face Colombia on 17 June and Mexico return to the stadium to conclude their Group A campaign against the Czech Republic on 24 June.
The Azteca will also host the last-32 knockout clash between the winner of Group A and one of the best third-placed teams as well as a last-16 game on 5 July.
And there its 2026 World Cup adventure will end somewhat prosaically in comparison with the Azteca's place in the competition's history as the only stadium to host two finals.
Four years after its inauguration, it was at the epicentre of the 1970 World Cup - the first not to be held in South Americaor Europe since the inception of the competition in 1930.
'Game of the Century'
In the semi-final, Germany and Italy contested what became known as the "Game of the Century", a 4-3 thriller which advanced the Italians to the final.
"We never imagined the atmosphere would be so mad," said Italy defender Angelo Domenghini.
"The crowd were going wild even before kick-off and the atmosphere never let up. Of course, there were plenty of goals, but the fans were absolutely electric."
Veteran star strikers Neymar and Ronaldo headed to World Cup
Four days later in the final, Brazil's Jairzinho became the first player to score in every round of a World Cup and Pelé entered legend as the first player to win the World Cup three times.
The 4-1 annihilation of the Italians allowed Brazil as three-time winners of the competition to keep the trophy named after Jules Rimet, the Fifa president who had created the World Cup competition.
Maradona's cunning and craft
In 1986, during the second World Cup in Mexico, Maradona used his hand to score Argentina's first goal in the quarter-final against England at the Azteca. It was a strike he later dubbed: 'The Hand of God'. Argentina striker Diego Maradona scored one of the most controversial goals in World Cup history as well as one of the best at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City as he led his team to their second World Cup title in 1986.
Maradona's second goal was also otherworldy. He slalomed through England's midfield and defence to slide the ball into the net for what remains on of the most brilliant individual goals at a World Cup.
A week after Maradona's impishness and ingenuity, Argentina lifted the World Cup for the second time after beating Germany 3-2 in the final.
There will be no final for the Estadio Azteca in 2026. High it lies in altitude, alone it stands in World Cup history.