There are fears that the stadium set to host the opening game of this summer’s World Cup is sinking, according to a report.
The showpiece event will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada between June 11 and July 19, with the first game set to be Mexico vs South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
NASA, however, are now reportedly monitoring the ground from space amid suggestions parts of the city are sinking by up to 10in a year.
According to The Star, fans have been reporting that chunks of concrete have been breaking in the floor of the ground, which is where Diego Maradona scored his infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal against England in 1986.
Fans have reportedly been taking sections of the stadium home as souvenirs, plunging the ground into crisis with less than 32 days to go until the start of the tournament.
The damage is said to have been first noticed during the first leg of the Liga MX Clausura quarter-finals.
Reports have emerged that the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City is sinking ahead of the World Cup
NASA are monitoring the stadium live using powerful radar systems in space, with the NISAR satellite able to detect small changes in the surface of the earth via thick vegetation or cloud cover.
Some parts of Mexico City are reported to be sinking by more than half an inch every month, which is one of the fastest rates in the world.
Marin Govorcin, a scientist at NASA’s jet propulsion laboratory, said: ‘Mexico City is subsiding primarily due to pumping of groundwater from the aquifer below the city at a rate that far exceeds natural recharge from precipitation. As water is withdrawn the aquifer compacts under the weight of the city above it.’
The Estadio Azteca is due to host five games at the tournament: three group stage matches, plus a round of 32 tie and one round of 16 game.
Mexican side Club America play their home games there, as well as the Mexico national team. It holds up to 87,500 fans.
Ahead of the first game of the tournament, there will be an opening ceremony, which is due to last 90 minutes. Alejandro Fernandez, Belinga, Danny Ocean and Lila Downs are all set to perform.
The United States and Canada will have their own opening ceremonies the following day, which will feature performances from the likes of Katy Perry in Los Angeles and Michael Buble in Toronto.
