Mexico, a co-host of the upcoming World Cup alongside the United States and Canada, has invested 400 million pesos, approximately $22 million, into renovating its training center, the Centro de Alto Rendimiento (CAR), also known as the High Performance Center. The renovated facility was officially reopened on Saturday, March 20, 2026, in Mexico City.
Who Pays for Preparation
The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) aims for optimal preparation and to elevate standards for the national team. FMF president Mikel Arriola said the investment reflects their responsibility for the 2026 World Cup and is intended as a legacy for the development of national teams in the coming years.
The CAR has served as the training headquarters for Mexico's national teams since 2003. Training for players from the domestic league at the High Performance Center is scheduled to begin on May 6, with Mexico's first World Cup match, the tournament opener against South Africa, set for June 11.
The Facility Built Around the Team
The renovation expanded the senior team accommodation from 20 to 45 rooms and added a 29-room area for youth national teams. A new building was constructed to house an expanded gym, growing from 1,200 to 6,000 square meters. This new building also includes a medical area, locker rooms, coaches’ offices, a sports intelligence area, and physiotherapy and hydrotherapy facilities.
Daniel García, FMF real estate manager, noted that almost all equipment in the new gym is new. The dining room capacity increased from 70 to 210 people. The training center features five playing fields, three of which are regulation size and two smaller. One field incorporates state-of-the-art hybrid technology, similar to that recently installed at Azteca Stadium, which was also renovated for the World Cup.
FIFA staff have reportedly commented that the CAR field is "the field in all of Mexico." The article records the scale of the renovation and the federation's stated goal of preparing the national team for the tournament.
The State and the Tournament
Javier Aguirre, the current Mexico coach, was part of the national team that reached the quarterfinals in the 1986 World Cup, matching Mexico's performance in the 1970 World Cup. Aguirre will now attempt to achieve similar results as a coach.
The renovation was presented as a legacy project tied to the World Cup. The source gives the cost, the expansion, and the timetable, showing how the federation has concentrated resources into elite preparation ahead of the tournament opener.
What Changed at CAR
The senior team accommodation increased from 20 to 45 rooms. A 29-room area was added for youth national teams. The gym expanded from 1,200 to 6,000 square meters. The dining room capacity rose from 70 to 210 people. Training for domestic league players begins on May 6, and Mexico opens the World Cup on June 11 against South Africa.