Before the start of the World Cup, the government of Mexico City (CDMX) will conduct a test during the match between Mexico vs. Portugal this Saturday, March 28th. This will involve the closure of avenues and streets surrounding the Banorte Stadium as part of the security operation. The Mexico City Citizen Security Secretariat reported that prior to the match, a special security and mobility operation will be deployed, which includes road closures, vehicle restrictions, and a large police presence in the southern part of the country's capital. If you are one of the 'brave' ones who will go to see the Mexican team led by Javier Aguirre, even though Cristiano Ronaldo was not called up for Portugal, we tell you what the road alternatives are and how the accesses to the Colossus of Santa Úrsula will be. Which streets will be closed during the Mexico vs. Portugal match? CDMX authorities will apply cuts and detours to traffic on various roads near the Banorte Stadium, as part of the security and access control plan set for the encounter. The main avenues that will be closed are: Avenida Santa Úrsula, Anillo Periférico on its southern stretch, Calzada de Tlalpan, Avenida del Imán, and the Gran Sur area. With the closure of streets and avenues, the CDMX government seeks to redistribute the arrival of attendees and reduce impact on citizens who will not be attending the match. What are the alternative routes in the southern area? Given the scheduled closures and detours in the vicinity of the stadium, the SSC recommended that drivers use alternative routes depending on the point of origin, with the aim of maintaining mobility in the southern zone and avoiding congestion on the roads that will be under operational control during the match: From the North: División del Norte, Miguel Ángel de Quevedo, Circuito Interior. From the South: Anillo Periférico, San Fernando, Insurgentes. From the East: Miramontes, Eje 3 Cafetales, Canal Nacional. From the West: Avenida Universidad, Insurgentes, Revolución. The mobility operation will begin at 6:00 a.m. with partial access only for suppliers and local traffic. From 13:00, a total closure will be applied in the immediate perimeter of the stadium, which will limit circulation to authorized vehicles. In addition, a security perimeter called the 'last mile' will be activated, where only people with a ticket for the Mexico vs. Portugal match will be allowed to enter. Will there be parking at the Banorte Stadium for the Mexico vs. Portugal match? The government of CDMX, led by Clara Brugada, informed that there will be no parking for the general public in the vicinity of the Banorte Stadium as part of the security operation. Traffic in the vicinity of the Colossus of Santa Úrsula will be limited to authorized vehicles and residents of the area. Fans will not be allowed to enter by car and must opt for public transport such as Metro, Metrobús, and Light Rail, as well as the special RTP and STE routes, the Park & Ride system, and designated points for taxis and ride-hailing apps, which will be located at: Viaducto Tlalpan, Renato Leduc (by Periférico), Paseo Acoxpa. From Santa Úrsula or Avenida del Imán, attendees can access through gates 3 and 8. The operation will also involve 2,000 Auxiliary Police elements and 800 police officers from the Subsecretariat of Traffic Control. The operation will count on the support of more than 2,000 personnel from federal agencies, as well as drones from the Águila Unit, ambulances, ERUM motor ambulances, and a helicopter from the General Directorate of Aerial Services 'Cóndores'. The Mexico vs. Portugal match will not only signify the reopening of the Azteca Stadium but will also represent a first test of how the security scheme will operate in the country's capital during the World Cup 2026 matches, in which the Mexican team will debut in the opening match against South Africa. The excitement and passion for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in Mexico, the United States, and Canada, is already in the air. Those arriving from CETRAM Huipulco or Calzada de Tlalpan must enter through the pedestrian access enabled on Tlalpan. The SSC will deploy 4,613 police officers for surveillance tasks inside and outside the stadium.
