A sneak peek inside Mexico’s iconic Azteca Stadium before World Cup kickoff

The BBC's Will Grant got access inside the renovated venue ahead of the first game of the tournament. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Will Grant takes a photo looking into his phone camera inside Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium. A sneak peek inside Mexico’s iconic Azteca Stadium before World Cup kickoff After years undergoing extensive renovations, Mexico City's iconic Azteca Stadium is ready to kick off the World Cup on Thursday. The BBC's Will Grant got access inside the massive arena ahead of the first game of the tournament. The players and staff will have to fly in and out of the US for each of their games in the group stage. Teachers demanding higher pay have been demonstrating for several days and threaten to disrupt the tournament if their demands are not met. In the shadow of cartel violence, BBC’s Will Grant got a first-hand look at security plans in Monterrey. Four people have been arrested and charged with trafficking more than $45 million in cocaine, according to federal officials. The BBC takes a closer look at major renovations at Benito Juárez International Airport aimed at boosting capacity ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Mexico City set a Guinness record for the largest football training session as 9,500 participants filled the capital’s Zocalo square ahead of World Cup. BBC international correspondent Quentin Sommerville travelled to Culiacán in northern Sinaloa state following an explosion in violence. BBC's Will Grant visits Puerto Vallarta, a popular coastal resort town, to see the damage. Mexico has seen battles between cartel members and police after Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader 'El Mencho' was killed on Sunday. The BBC's Will Grant describes how locals are feeling in Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco, Mexico, after a wave of violence hit the streets. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho", was killed during a security operation to arrest him, Mexico's defence ministry has said. About 8.2 million people participated in the first drill of the year, achieving an average evacuation time of 1 minute and 52 seconds. The 6.5 magnitude trembler shook buildings and set off the country's earthquake alert system. Local police said the man was not injured in the crash in Mexico City on 9 December. Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch, said Nawat Itsaragrisil was 'not respectful' at a pre-pageant ceremony on Tuesday President Claudia Sheinbaum and Prime Minister Mark Carney's meeting is meant to kickstart a new economic bilateral relationship. Initial reports suggested the sinkhole was caused by a collapsed drainage system, according to Iztapalapa's mayor. A fight erupted in the senate involving two senior Mexican politicians. The Trump administration raised Canada's tariff from 25% to 35%, while granting Mexico a 90-day pause for higher levies. Video shows communities in the affected areas dealing with flood waters and a messy clean-up. BBC's Will Grant visited Barrio Toledo, where at least 700 containers are being repurposed into two-bedroom homes with kitchens, bathrooms and patios. Protesters have been calling for the president to resign after weeks-long unrest. Shakira's appearance followed shows by Lady Gaga and Madonna, who have also performed on Copacabana beach in previous years. Journalists are now able to upload their work to a website so that if anything were to happen to them, their work could still be published. Footage released by the attorney general's office shows large groups of men in prison attending the trial via video link. Around 80 firefighters and 20 fire trucks tackled the blaze, the state's military fire department said, adding that no one was hurt. The BBC's Will Grant spoke to several Cubans as the country grapples with severe electricity shortages, which is attributed in part to US sanctions. One hundred and fifty eight captive-bred juvenile tortoises were released on the Galápagos island of Floreana. Rio de Janeiro's iconic Carnival parades began with a tribute to Brazil's President Lula, illustrating his rise from poverty to power. A rare phantom jellyfish has been spotted by scientists exploring the deep sea in the South Atlantic. BBC Senior international correspondent Orla Guerin joined a special operation over Colombia's cocaine heartland, tasked with destroying crude cocaine labs hidden deep in the jungle. The BBC's Will Grant is in Cuba's capital, Havana, where people lined the streets to pay tribute. BBC reporter Norberto Paredes is in Caracas as the Venezuelan government begins to release its political prisoners. The BBC's Cuba Correspondent, Will Grant, looks at the close ties between the two nations. BBC Mundo has spoken to Venezuelans in the country's capital about the latest US military operation. Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at the key questions following US strikes on Venezuela and seizure of its president. President Donald Trump has said the US will "run" Venezuela after it launched strikes on the country and captured President Nicolas Maduro. The BBC’s Analysis Editor Ros Atkins looks at what we know about the "active pursuit" of an oil tanker by the US Coast Guard off the coast of Venezuela. The Venezuelan opposition leader talked about she escaped Venezuela after months in hiding. The Venezuelan opposition leader made her first public appearance in 11 months moments before the interview.