Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Marc Guehi suggested co-hosts Mexico are the favourites when England head to the historic Estadio Azteca for Monday’s last-16 clash at the World Cup.
Mexico have a perfect record after four games at the finals, easing through their group stage without conceding a goal before sweeping aside Ecuador 2-0 in their round-of-32 clash.
Javier Aguirre’s side return to the famous Azteca, where they are unbeaten in 10 World Cup games (W8 D2), winning the last six in a row.
With their fearsome home record and apparent advantage at altitude – the iconic venue around 2,200m above sea level – Guehi admits it will be a tough task for Thomas Tuchel’s men.
“We know they’re a good team and they’ve got the fans on their side, so it’ll be going into the cauldron,” the Manchester City centre-back told FIFA. “But it’ll be a fun test.
“I’d say they’re kind of favourites. They’re at home, and they know the environment a lot better. They haven’t conceded so far and have got a perfect record.
“You come to these competitions to play against top teams, in top atmospheres. It’s a match we’re all looking forward to.”
In place for the Round of 16 pic.twitter.com/d67Ocb6a7w
— England (@England) July 4, 2026
Indeed, Mexico have played 89 competitive games at the Azteca in their history and lost just twice.
Those two defeats came in World Cup qualifiers back in June 2001 (against Costa Rica) and September 2013 (versus Honduras).
England also have history with the venue, returning there for the first time in 40 years since Diego Maradona’s infamous handball finish at the 1986 World Cup.
But Guehi expects his side to stand up to the challenge, with a potential quarter-final meeting against either Brazil or Norway to follow in Miami.
“I think I know my character,” Guehi said. “It’s just how you’re able to cope in those moments.
“You start picturing in your mind what those moments are going to look like, and visualise them so that when they do come, you’re not surprised.
“It’s about trying to show those elements of your character and having personality in those moments.”
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