England prepare to step onto the most majestic stage in world football — the Estadio Azteca — as they face Mexico in a last-16 tie that has already been overshadowed by thunderstorms, altitude and a colossal security operation.
Riot police are guarding the England hotel after 17,000 officers were deployed in Mexico City for what has been described as the “biggest operation ever seen for an England football match”. The build-up has been dominated by talk of the atmosphere, altitude and kick-off time at the Azteca, which sits 2,240m above sea level.
“England face Mexico at the Azteca amid thunderstorms, altitude concerns and a massive security operation.”
Confusion took hold over the match being pushed forward due to forecasted thunderstorms, but England manager Thomas Tuchel said he had no concerns after reports Mexico fans tried to keep Ecuador players awake with loudspeakers before their previous tie. “We have security around the hotel so we expect a good night's sleep,” Tuchel said.
Harry Kane, however, embraced the early-morning kick-off, telling fans: “I think everyone would love nothing more than to be celebrating as the sun's rising at 5,6am.”
For England, the occasion carries deep historical weight. The Azteca is where Pele won his third World Cup and where Maradona scored his “goal of the century”. “There is just something very special about Azteca,” Pele recalled. “You need to be inside it, to feel it, to understand.”
The stadium’s architect, Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, designed it with steep sides and underground dressing rooms to create a cauldron of noise. “The foundation of the design... was that each spectator should have, from any seat, the same quality view as everybody else,” he said.
On the pitch, England have injury concerns. Reece James trained alone before the match, while Jarell Quansah has hope of being available. This is England’s first visit to the Azteca since being eliminated by Maradona’s Argentina in the 1986 World Cup. Beating Mexico here would be one of the England men’s team’s greatest achievements of the century.