Estadio Jalisco

About Estadio Jalisco

Estadio Jalisco sits in the Colonia Independencia neighborhood of Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest city, along Calzada Independencia about 4 kilometers north of the historic center. At 56,713 seats, it’s the third-largest football stadium in Mexico — and one of the most historically significant stadiums in the Americas.

Home to Atlas FC since 1960 and Leones Negros UdeG since 1970, Estadio Jalisco was also home to C.D. Guadalajara (Chivas) for half a century before they moved to Estadio Akron in 2010. The stadium’s true claim to fame, though, is its World Cup heritage: it hosted matches at both the 1970 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, serving as Brazil’s base stadium in both tournaments.

The original bowl was built between 1952 and 1959 at a cost of 34 million pesos, with an initial capacity of 30,000. In 1969, capacity was expanded to 70,000 for the 1970 World Cup. Modern all-seater safety requirements have since reduced it to 56,713. A 2017 renovation replaced all seating, upgraded the roof structure, and installed new LED lighting. The playing field is natural grass at 105 x 70 meters.

Atlas FC’s back-to-back Liga MX titles in 2021 and 2022 — ending a 70-year championship drought — brought Estadio Jalisco back into the national spotlight. The celebrations that poured out of this stadium when Atlas clinched against León on penalties in December 2021 were some of the most emotional scenes in Mexican football history.

Getting to Estadio Jalisco

Public Transit

Guadalajara’s bus rapid transit system makes getting to Estadio Jalisco straightforward. The Mi Macro Calzada line stops at the Monumental station directly in front of the stadium on Calzada Independencia.

Multiple local bus routes also serve the stadium area, including T18-A and the PARADOR line. For visitors unfamiliar with the bus network, rideshare is the simplest alternative.

Driving + Parking

Estadio Jalisco sits directly on Calzada Independencia, one of Guadalajara’s main north-south boulevards. Getting here by car is simple — the challenge is parking.

The official Estacionamiento Estadio Jalisco parking lot is on Avenida Fidel Velázquez Sánchez, but spaces are limited. Informal street parking and small private lots operate in the surrounding residential streets on match days. Arrive 1-2 hours early if you’re driving.

Rideshare

Uber and DiDi both operate widely in Guadalajara and are popular for getting to Estadio Jalisco. DiDi is often cheaper. A ride from the centro histórico typically costs 50-80 MXN ($3-5 USD).

Pro tip: After the match, walk several blocks west along a side street before requesting a ride. The area immediately outside the gates gets extremely congested.

From the Airport

World Cup Legacy at Estadio Jalisco

Estadio Jalisco is one of only a handful of stadiums worldwide to host matches at two separate FIFA World Cups. In 1970, it was Brazil’s home ground — and the setting for one of the most iconic moments in World Cup history.

1970 World Cup (8 matches): Brazil played every group stage match here, including the legendary June 7 encounter with England. That match featured Gordon Banks’ miraculous save against Pelé’s header — widely considered the greatest save ever. Jairzinho scored the only goal in a 1-0 Brazil win. The Seleção went on to beat Uruguay 3-1 in the semifinal at Estadio Jalisco before lifting the trophy in Mexico City.

1986 World Cup (6 matches): Brazil returned to Guadalajara for the 1986 tournament. The quarterfinal between Brazil and France on June 21 is remembered as one of the greatest World Cup matches ever — a 1-1 draw settled 4-3 on penalties in France’s favor. West Germany then defeated France 2-0 in the semifinal at this same venue.

History of Estadio Jalisco

The idea for Estadio Jalisco emerged in 1954, when a local derby between Chivas and Atlas exposed that Guadalajara’s existing venues couldn’t handle demand. The city granted planning permission on October 8, 1954, and construction began under Constructora Jalisco S.A. de C.V. Cardinal José Garibi Rivera blessed the stadium on January 24, 1959, and the first competitive match was played on January 31, 1960 — Atlas vs. San Lorenzo of Argentina.

• 1969 Expansion: Capacity doubled from 30,000 to 70,000 for the 1970 FIFA World Cup, making Estadio Jalisco one of the largest stadiums in the Americas.
• 1970 FIFA World Cup: Hosted 8 matches including group stage, quarterfinal, and semifinal. Brazil’s base stadium.
• 1986 FIFA World Cup: Hosted 6 matches including the iconic Brazil-France quarterfinal and West Germany-France semifinal.
• Chivas Departure (2010): C.D. Guadalajara moved to the new Estadio Akron after 50 years at Estadio Jalisco.
• Atlas Apertura 2021 Title (December 12, 2021): Atlas defeated Club León on penalties (4-3) to win their first league title in 70 years. The stadium exploded with decades of pent-up emotion.
• Atlas Clausura 2022 Title (May 26, 2022): Atlas won the first leg 2-0 at home, then clinched 3-2 on aggregate against Pachuca to become back-to-back champions.
• 2017 Renovation: All seating replaced, roof refurbished, LED lighting installed, and a 360-degree video screen added above the field.