Why the Mexico vs Portugal friendly in Mexico doesn't feel the same anymore

T he Mexico vs Portugal friendly scheduled for March 28, 2026 , was never just another international tune-up. There was something about it that made it feel bigger from the start, something that slowly built into expectation.

This match marks the official reopening of what is now called Estadio Banorte, formerly known as Estadio Azteca , one of the most iconic venues in world soccer.

From the moment it was announced, anticipation began to grow. For months, the possibility of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo in Mexico became part of the conversation , driving ticket demand to the point of sellouts, which in turn led to resale listings at unusually high prices.

When did the perception of the match change?

However, that perception around the match shifted once it was announced that Ronaldo would not be part of the game due to a right hamstring injury, leaving him out of the squad. The impact went beyond the lineup, quickly changing how the event was being perceived.

That shift became visible almost immediately in resale. Tickets that had reached around 8,000 pesos, roughly $470 USD in upper sections, began to appear closer to 2,000 pesos, about $120 USD. VIP areas that once approached 100,000 pesos, nearly $5,800 USD, dropped to around 30,000 pesos, or roughly $1,700 USD, depending on availability.

The drop in resale prices made clear how much of the event's scale is tied to the expectation of seeing Cristiano Ronaldo, and while it remains important, it no longer draws the same level of demand .