Mexico's men's national team, El Tri, will make its Estadio BBVA debut in Nuevo León on Tuesday, 17 November, hosting the second leg of a Concacaf Nations League quarter-final. The venue decision follows plans for a San Francisco 49ers-Minnesota Vikings NFL game in Mexico City.
Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, formerly known as Estadio Azteca, was reportedly considered for the football fixture, but Mexican media said preparations for the 49ers-Vikings game made the venue unavailable, sending Mexico's title defence to the home of Rayados de Monterrey.
Why El Tri Will Play at Estadio BBVA
The move gives Nuevo León an official Mexico match with a place in the Nations League Finals at stake. It will be the return leg of a knockout tie, so what El Tri needs on the night will depend on the score from the first meeting.
The venue has been confirmed before Mexico's opponent, and the national team's first match at Estadio BBVA will have a place in the Nations League Finals at stake.
Estadio Banorte was reportedly the original choice, but Mexican media said the venue would be unavailable while preparations were under way for the NFL game.
San Francisco and Minnesota are due to meet there in November. Those arrangements put two major sporting fixtures in different Mexican cities rather than at the same stadium, with the American football game remaining in the capital.
For Mexico supporters, the choice has another dimension. The previous national team cycle also faced criticism over the number of official matches staged in the United States, with some supporters calling for more competitive fixtures on Mexican soil.
It is a more consequential home date than a friendly, although the identity of the visiting team remains unknown.
El Tri Will Finish Nations League Quarter-Final at Home
Mexico enters the tie as the reigning Concacaf Nations League champion. It won the 2024-25 competition by beating Panama 2-1 in the final, ending a run of three editions without the title. That victory gave Mexico its first Nations League crown.
Two of those campaigns ended in final defeats against the United States. The November quarter-final is therefore the first knockout hurdle in its attempt to retain a trophy it had previously struggled to win.
The second leg will allow Mexico to decide the tie in front of a home crowd. Mexico cannot know what result will take it through until the first leg has been played. A lead, a level score or a deficit would each create a different contest at Estadio BBVA. For now, the confirmed elements are the date, the ground and the stage of the tournament.
What the Estadio BBVA Date Means for El Tri
Mexico's move to Monterrey brings an official international fixture onto home soil while the Mexico City venue is committed to the NFL.
The national team will have the chance to decide its quarter-final tie before its own supporters, but the opposing side is still unknown.
The first leg will set the terms of the return match. On 17 November, Estadio BBVA will host Mexico's attempt to advance to the next round.
