Riot police have surrounded England’s hotel in Mexico City and 17,000 officers are on duty across the capital in what officials describe as the “biggest operation ever seen for an England football match” – a measure of the fever gripping the host nation before Sunday’s World Cup last-16 tie.
England will not just be fighting the fierce passion of an entire nation when they face Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium; they will be battling the weight of history. The atmosphere in Mexico City was already red hot more than 24 hours before kick-off, with giant screens erected along Paseo de la Reforma and car horns blaring. Only one subject is on the lips of Mexicans: what will unfold in the Azteca cauldron on Sunday night (Monday 01:00 BST).
“17,000 police guard England's hotel as they face Mexico at the Azteca, where history and altitude await.”
Mexico have not conceded a goal in the World Cup and have lost only two competitive games out of 88 played at their spiritual home, which stands 7,220 ft above sea level. England have had little time to adjust after playing two games in the temperature-controlled luxury of Dallas and Atlanta, then in the rain of Boston and New Jersey. Their last visit to the Azteca was the scene of Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal when they lost 2–1 to Argentina in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final.
Hundreds of Mexico supporters surrounded England’s hotel after their arrival, using car horns, roaring motorcycle engines and loud hailers to create a disturbance – a tactic they used against Ecuador’s base earlier in the tournament. Thomas Tuchel, England’s head coach, visibly relished the atmosphere when he spoke at the Azteca. “We saw the excitement and the emotions of the people when we arrived. They were emotional but also very, very respectful,” he said. “We felt the energy of the place right away. This is a next-level setting. I felt straight away this would be a proper World Cup game. We are in an iconic place and an iconic stadium.”
The match was originally scheduled for a 6pm local time kick-off, translating to a gruelling 1am start for fans back in the UK. FIFA considered bringing the fixture forward by six hours to avoid severe electrical thunderstorms and potential flooding, but after intense backlash the decision was made to keep the original time. Thunder and lightning rattled around the stadium on Saturday as merchandise and souvenir sellers lined the streets.
The weight of a nation, the altitude, the history – all await England in the Azteca cauldron. Mexico have not lost here in competitive football. The Three Lions have 40 years of hurt to overcome.