World Cup Qualifying Intercontinental Playoffs Stadium Preview

Image Credit: aboodi vesakaran

The 2026 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoffs (ICP) are taking place in Mexico, with the semifinals matches on March 26 and the final matches on March 31. Between both rounds the ICP comprises four matches and involves six nations; Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname. Among the six nations, four will compete in the final, with the two match-winners qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That tournament will occur in June and July 2026 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The ICP matches take place in two stadiums located in Mexico: Estadio Akron in Zapopan and Estadio BBVA in Guadeloupe. Zapopan and Guadalupe are cities located within the metropolitan areas of Guadalajara and Monterrey, respectively — two host cities for the final tournament.

Below is a preview of both stadiums, from the year the stadium was built, to the tenants that play in the stadium to some of the iconic matches that took place on the stadium’s pitch.

Estadio Akron

Image Credit: Miguel Ramírez

• City: Zapopan (greater Guadalajara), Jalisco, Mexico

• Built: July 2010 (broke ground in February 2004)

• Tenant(s): CD Guadalajara (Liga MX club) and Mexico senior men’s national team (select matches)

• Previous World Cup stadium: No

• Iconic matches:

  • 2013 Liga MX Clausura finals second-leg match (Guadalajara defeated league rivals TIgres UANL 2-1, 4-3 on aggregate)

  • 2018 CONCACAF Champions League final second-leg match (Guadalajara defeated Major League Soccer club Toronto FC on penalties)

  • 2023 Liga MX Clausura final second-leg match (Tigres defeated Guadalajara 3-2 after extra-time)

• ICP matches:

  • Path A semifinal: New Caledonia vs Jamaica

  • Path A final: DR Congo vs Jamaica

• Matches taking place in the 2026. World Cup:

  • Group A: South Korea vs Czechia or Denmark (June 11)

  • Group A: Mexico vs South Korea (June 18)

  • Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo or Jamaica (June 23)

  • Group H: Uruguay vs Spain (June 26)

Estadio BBVA

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

• City: Guadalupe (greater Monterrey), Nuevo León, Mexico

• Year built: July 2015 (broke ground in August 2011)

• Tenant(s): CF Monterrey (Liga MX club)

• Previous World Cup stadium: No

• Iconic matches:

  • 2016 Liga MX Clausura final second-leg match (Monterrey drew league rivals CF Pachuca 1-1, won 2-1 on aggregate)

  • 2017 Copa MX Apertura final (Monterrey defeated Pachuca 1-0)

  • 2017 Liga MX Apertura final (Tigres defeated Monterrey 2-1, won 3-2 on aggregate)

  • 2018 Copa MX Apertura final (Liga MX club Cruz Azul defeated Monterrey 2-0)

  • 2019 CONCACAF Champions League final second-leg match (Monterrey drew Tigre’s 1-1, won 2-1 on aggregate)

  • 2019-20 Copa MX final second-leg match (Monterrey drew league rivals Club Tijuana 1-1, won 2-1 on aggregate)

  • 2021 CONCACAF Champions League final (Monterrey defeated league rivals Club América 1-0)

  • 2024 Liga MX Clausura final second-leg match (Monterrey drew América 1-1, lost 3-2 on aggregate)

• ICP matches:

  • Path A semifinal: Bolivia vs Suriname

  • Path B final: Iraq vs Bolivia

• Matches taking place in the 2026. World Cup:

  • Group F: Sweden or Poland vs Tunisia (June 14)

  • Group F: Tunisia vs Japan (June 20)

  • Group A: South Africa vs South Korea (June 24)

  • Round of 32: Winner Group F vs Runner-up Group C (June 29)