13
JUN
GROUP I · MD1
🇮🇷Iranvs🇳🇴Norway
Haaland's WC debut · Asia-Europe crossover
15:00 CST21:00 GMT
49,850
Capacity (WC config)
4
WC 2026 matches
2010
Opened · USD $250 M build
Grass
Surface · permanent natural
1,566m
Altitude · less than Azteca
02 · The Soul
Chivas's bowl, Guadalajara's WC.
Opened in 2010 as Chivas's purpose-built home. Guadalajara — Mexico's second city — gets its first World Cup matches at the modern Estadio Akron.
Hosted the 2011 Pan-American Games opening · the only WC 2026 Mexican venue outside Mexico City and Monterrey.
The slate: four WC matches. All group stage. The Pacific coast's WC anchor.
03 · The Fixtures · 4 matches
Every game played here.
Group stage only · the Pacific Mexico slate.
17
JUN
GROUP H · MD1
🇦🇺Australiavs🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
Asia-Oceania group opener
12:00 CST18:00 GMT
22
JUN
GROUP J · MD2
🇨🇷Costa Ricavs🇰🇷Korea Rep.
Concacaf-Asia crossover
12:00 CST18:00 GMT
26
JUN
GROUP D · MD3★ Group decider
🇪🇨Ecuadorvs🇸🇦Saudi Arabia
Group decider · loser may go home
15:00 CST21:00 GMT
04 · The Map
Pinned.
Zapopan · Guadalajara metro · the tequila country two hours west.
🏆Estadio Akron
—Stadium · Zapopan
2026 WC venue · 49,850 capacity · Chivas's home.
🚆Periférico Norte SITEUR
2.5 miTransit · Zapopan
Guadalajara light rail · the cleanest WC transit option in Jalisco.
🛏Hotel Riu Plaza Guadalajara
3 miHotels · Zapopan
The premium hotel · 10-min Uber to the gate.
🎉Plaza Mayor de Zapopan
5 miFan zones · Centro Zapopan
Zapopan's historic centre · WC fan-festival anchor location.
🍽La Chata Tradicional
7 miRestaurants · Centro Guadalajara
The most-famous birria spot in Guadalajara · regional WC must-stop.
🌳Tequila town
37 miParks · Tequila, Jalisco
Tequila distillery country · 2-hour drive west · WC fan day-trip.
✈Guadalajara International (GDL)
15 miAirports · Tlajomulco
The airport · 30-min drive · domestic Mexican flights primarily.
06 · Getting There
Three ways in.
Guadalajara is a car town · the SITEUR light rail is limited but useful from central GDL.
🚗 From central Guadalajara
Periférico Norte · 25 min off-peak
25 minoff-peak
MXN $150parking on-site
6 lotsavailable
1
Periférico Norte westbound from central GDL.
2
Exit Av Universidad.
3
Pre-paid parking strongly recommended.
🚆 From central GDL
SITEUR + bus
50 mindoor to gate
MXN $9combined
12 minfrequency
1
SITEUR Line 3 westbound to Periférico Norte.
2
Event-day shuttle to the stadium.
3
10-min ride direct to the gate.
🚗 From GDL airport
Carretera Chapala + Periférico
40 minoff-peak
MXN $150on-site lots
6 lotsavailable
1
Carretera Chapala north.
2
Periférico Sur → Periférico Norte west.
3
Exit Av Universidad.
07 · The Pitch & the Stands
Chivas's pitch, at 1,566 metres.
Estadio Akron has been on natural grass since opening · 16 years of Liga MX matches · **less altitude than Azteca, more than sea-level visitors expect.**
Field specifications
// already FIFA-spec
SurfaceNatural grass · Bermuda
SourceIn-situ · 16 years
Dimensions105m × 68m
RoofOpen · grass canopy over stands
LightingLED · 2,500 lux
Pitch transitionNone required
Altitude1,566m above sea level
LowerClubUpperVIP
08 · The History
Before it was a World Cup venue.
Opened in 2010. The biggest moments before WC 2026, in reverse.
2026
🏆 FIFA World Cup · 4 matches · group only
Guadalajara\'s WC.
Four group-stage matches · the Pacific Mexico WC anchor.
2017
🏆 Liga MX final · Chivas wins their 12th title
Chivas's 12th league title.
Chivas beat Tigres in the Liga MX Clausura final · the Estadio Akron's loudest sustained sporting moment.
2011
🏅 Pan American Games · opening ceremony
Guadalajara's Pan-Ams open.
The 2011 Pan American Games · Estadio Akron's first international ceremony.
2010
🏟 Opening · Chivas vs Manchester United
Chivas opens against the Red Devils.
First match · Chivas 1-1 Manchester United in a friendly · Estadio Akron's first international club match.
★ The deepest line on this file
Group D Decider.
Friday · 26 June 2026 · 15:00 CST
23
Days
07
Hours
33
Minutes
29
Seconds
Ecuador vs Saudi Arabia · group-stage decider · loser goes home.
09 · Stadium trivia
Four facts for the birria line.
For La Chata's.
Chivas's purpose-built home
Built specifically for CD Guadalajara in 2010. Permanent natural grass · the Chivas faithful's cathedral.
The grass canopy
Estadio Akron's roof is grass-covered · an architectural signature · the only WC venue with vegetation as a roofing material.
Tequila is 2 hours away
Tequila distillery country is 37 miles west · WC visitors who don't take the day trip are missing the regional culture.
Altitude: 1,566 metres
Less than Azteca, more than sea level. Visitors from MetLife or BMO Field will feel the elevation.
The deepest truth in the file
Four matches.Chivas's purpose-built bowl.Guadalajara's first World Cup.
Host venueGroup stage49,850 capacityChivas's homePacific México