With just over two months to go before the most important sporting event of the year begins—the FIFA World Cup 2026, whose opening match will take place in Mexico City (on June 11)—it’s well worth remembering one of the cultural projects that, within the framework of another major sporting event—the 1968 Olympic Games—was developed in the southern part of the capital as an original sculptural corridor “to honor the friendship among participating nations.” One of its 22 pieces was placed just outside the famous Estadio Azteca (now Estadio Banorte), which this year will become a three-time World Cup venue.
The “Route of Friendship” was conceived by artist Mathias Goeritz (creator of the iconic Torres de Satélite and the latticework of the Camino Real Hotel in Polanco) and supervised by architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez (the mastermind behind emblematic constructions in Mexico City such as the National Museum of Anthropology, the current Basilica of Guadalupe, and the Estadio Azteca itself). The route consists of 19 main stations, plus three from invited countries, spread across approximately 17 kilometers, mainly along the southern stretch of the Periférico ring road and some areas of Cuemanco and Tlalpan.
It’s worth noting that over time, due to urban growth or the expansion of certain roads—such as the construction of the second level of Periférico—some of these massive sculptures (ranging from 7 to 26 meters in height) have had to be relocated or restored, thanks to the work of a foundation established in 1994 that periodically restores them and keeps them visible for curious visitors and art lovers.
Among the pieces, mostly made of concrete and easily admired from a car while driving along Periférico Sur, the following stand out:
Señales (Signs). Station #1, created by Mexican artist Ángela Gurría. It stands 18 meters tall and symbolizes two horns—one light and one dark—evoking the early Olympics, in which African countries participated jointly, excluding South Africa due to its racial segregation policies. It is located at the Insurgentes cloverleaf (north-south direction).
Sol (Sun). Station #4, by Japanese artist Kiyoshi Takahashi. It consists of two giant spheres, each 7 meters tall, with two quarters removed from their bodies so that, when viewed at speed from Periférico, they appear to merge into one. It is located at the Insurgentes Sur and Periférico cloverleaf (north-south direction).
Torre de los Vientos (Tower of the Winds). Station #6, created by Uruguayan artist Gonzalo Fonseca. This 13-meter-high sculpture resembles a large grain silo and was conceived as a habitable monument, encouraging viewers to interact with it. It is located on Periférico Sur (north-south direction), in front of the Perisur shopping center.
México (Mexico). Station #11, created by Spanish artist José María Subirachs. It stands 10.5 meters tall, and according to the artist, the horizontal volume subtly suggests the word “Mexico”, inviting viewers to discover and read it. It is located at the Periférico and Insurgentes Sur cloverleaf (south-north direction).
Muro Articulado (Articulated Wall). Station #13, perhaps the most recognizable piece for drivers on Periférico Sur due to its vibrant yellow color. It was created by Austrian-American artist Herbert Bayer and recently appeared in a video by Mexican rockstar Leonardo de Lozanne in his solo project. It is located at the Insurgentes Sur and Periférico cloverleaf, along Insurgentes, in front of the Cuicuilco Archaeological Zone.
Sol Rojo (Red Sun). This was Guest Piece #1. It stands just outside the Estadio Azteca, in the main plaza facing Calzada de Tlalpan. Created by American artist Alexander Calder, its more than 25 meters in height have made it an inevitable meeting point for hundreds of sports fans due to its massive size and unmistakable design.
Which of these giant sculptures—symbolizing the unity of the five continents through abstract art, under the pretext of a sporting event—have you seen while traveling through southern Mexico City?
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