On June 12, Beijing time, the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup (co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico) officially commenced. The world’s eyes turned to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City - a football sanctuary first built in 1962 and now the first stadium in history to host three World Cup tournaments. As Mexico and South Africa battled fiercely on the pitch, behind this legendary venue stood the presence of Chinese construction machinery.
In 1970, Pelé lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy at the Azteca; in 1986, Maradona performed his "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" here. This storied stadium, which had twice hosted World Cup finals, was now ablaze with footballing passion once again.
To prepare for the 2026 World Cup, the Azteca underwent a comprehensive 20-month renovation project that commenced in May 2024. Zoomlion’s RT75 rough-terrain crane was fully engaged in lifting the stadium’s steel structures and steel beams. With its efficient, stable, and reliable performance, the project was completed on schedule and helped the stadium achieve a magnificent transformation.
In recent years, Zoomlion has been steadily expanding its footprint in the Latin American market with remarkable results. In 2024, the company’s products entered the Mexican market in full force, with sales of construction hoisting machinery and aerial work platforms quickly exceeding the RMB 100 million mark. In 2025, Zoomlion officially opened its first branch office in Mexico City, further advancing its localisation strategy.
Today, the “Aurora Green” is rapidly illuminating Mexico’s landscape. Zoomlion delivered an 800-tonne all-terrain crane to a Mexican client, setting a new record for the largest‑tonnage crane sold by the company in the North American market; its 72-metre telescopic boom aerial work platform set a new local industry record; excavators and bulldozers served as the “pathfinders” for the Maya Train, a major Mexican national infrastructure project; and in May this year, the Agricultural Machinery Latin America Experience & Support Centre was inaugurated in Aguascalientes, creating a new integrated service hub covering the entire region.
The Azteca Stadium is not Zoomlion’s first connection with the World Cup. Since 2018, Zoomlion has achieved a “full attendance” record in World Cup stadium construction, conquering the severe cold of Siberia, withstanding extreme heat and sandstorms in the Middle East, and tackling high-difficulty operations “dancing on a knife’s edge” ,with its equipment always performing with ease.
The story continues. Zoomlion’s ZCC9800WV crawler crane, the largest-tonnage crane exported by China to North Africa, had assisted in the construction of the Rabat Sports Stadium in Morocco, a venue for the 2030 World Cup. After completing the lifting tasks there, this giant has already been relocated to participate in building the world’s largest football stadium - the Grand Stade Hassan II.
