Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Thomas Tuchel has described the energy in Mexico City as infectious, ahead of England facing the World Cup co-hosts in a huge round-of-16 showdown at the Estadio Azteca.
In order to reach the quarter-finals at a third straight edition of the tournament, England must pass a stern test against Javier Aguirre’s Mexico.
England have won their last four meetings with Mexico, all in friendly matches between 1986 and 2010.
It is just the fourth time England have faced a host nation at a World Cup, and they have a mixed record in those matches, beating Switzerland 2-0 in 1954, drawing 0-0 with Spain in 1982 and losing 2-1 to Italy in 1990.
Mexico boast an impervious record at the Atzeca, though, never losing a World Cup match at the venue (W8 D2) and winning each of their last six in a row.
This will be the 11th time they have played there at a World Cup, which will make it the most games played at one venue by a team in the competition’s history.
Prior to Mexico’s last-32 tie against Ecuador, their opponents complained that fans had disrupted their preparations by making noise throughout the night outside their team hotel, while their travel plans were also disrupted.
But England’s arrival in Mexico City, at least, was uneventful.
“We had no issues tonight and I think FIFA took care of the situation,” Tuchel said. “We have security around the hotel, so we expect a good night’s sleep.
“It was even nicer than I expected. It just catches you straight away once you land here and see the excitement and the emotions.
“This will be a proper World Cup match. We are in an iconic place, an iconic stadium for a massive knockout game.
“It is a big stage and we feel it. It makes you sharper and brings the best out of you. It makes you feel alive.”
— England (@England) July 5, 2026
The altitude at the venue – which sits around 2,200 metres above sea level – is also likely to have an impact, with England not having the requisite time to adapt to lower blood oxygen levels and the composition of the air slightly affecting the flight of the ball.
“We feel it even if we don’t train,” Tuchel said. “I felt a slight headache throughout the day, for example.
“The players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went on, they could cope with it better.
“It is just what it is. We cannot physically adapt, it is impossible. But we are here one day before to experience it, at least.”
England will have to keep a familiar face quiet if they are to progress, with Raul Jimenez scoring more goals against Jordan Pickford than he has against any other goalkeeper throughout his time in the Premier League with Wolves and Fulham (six).
The striker, who will play in England’s second tier in 2026-27 after returning to Wolves, said: “I saw that statistic yesterday. I didn’t realise it before. It’s really good and I want to keep increasing my goals against him.
“I will be working hard, making things difficult for their defence. For us to win, we need to use every ball.
“It’s always important, not just because it’s England. It’s a World Cup. If we can play the best game of our lives, it will be fantastic.”
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