The incredible stat that shows why England should fear Mexico showdown at World Cup 2026

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Evening Standard

1 July 2026

Three Lions will need to be at their very best to book quarter-final spot at the fortress Estadio Azteca

The famous

Estadio Azteca

Mexico

City has long been one of football’s most iconic stadiums, steeped in rich

World Cup

folklore.

It is the scene of England’s next match at the 2026 tournament as they face co-hosts Mexico in a huge last-16 showdown - one that brings with it a 1am BST kick-off time in the UK on Monday morning (July 6).

Make no mistake, it is a serious challenge for the

Three Lions

, who rather laboured to the top of Group L despite a

thrilling opening win over Croatia

and then

needed two late Harry Kane goals

to avoid a humiliating early exit from the round of 32 against a DR Congo team playing in their first-ever

knockout match.

Taking on a well-backed host nation at the World Cup is never an easy task, let alone one in such strong form at a venue with a long-held reputation as an impregnable, high-altitude fortress - one that sits more than 2,000 metres above sea level.

Mexico’s astounding record at the atmospheric Azteca - home of club sides Club America and Cruz Azul, as well as the national team - is one of the most extraordinary in all of international football and sport in general.

Of their 89 previous competitive fixtures at the 87,523-capacity ground, which was first opened in the year of England’s one and only

triumph to date in 1966, El Tri have lost only two.

The last was when they were stunned 2-1 by Honduras in September 2013 in qualifying for the 2014

in Brazil, while the first was in June 2001, when they were shocked by Costa Rica in qualification for the 2002 tournament in Japan and South Korea - an episode known as ‘Aztecazo’.

Fortress:

brushed aside Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca in their first

knockout win since 1986

Getty

Before that, Mexico’s only losses at the Azteca - known during this

simply as

City Stadium - had been in friendlies, against Hungary, Brazil, Italy, Peru, Chile and Spain. The last of those friendly losses was in 1981.

70 of those 89 competitive matches have been wins, with 17 draws.

It has continued to be a safe haven for

at this

so far, with three of their four fixtures having been at the Azteca.

On Tuesday, they got first-half goals from Julian Quinones and Wolves striker Raul Jimenez to down 10-man Ecuador 2-0 - achieving their first

knockout win since they last hosted the tournament back in 1986, when they beat Bulgaria in the last 16 before being ousted by West Germany on penalties in the quarter-finals.

Ecuador have lodged an official complaint with

FIFA

over fireworks being set off outside their team hotel the night before the game - the sort of episode

England

will be keen to avoid.

The Azteca was also the site of their opening 2-0 victory over South Africa in which a total of three red cards were brandished, with

later brushing aside Czech Republic there after a brief trip to the even higher-altitude Estadio Guadalajara saw them edge out South Korea 1-0 and confirm their progress into the round of 32 as Group A winners.

England will not need any reminding of their last visit to the Azteca - one that is firmly imprinted on the nation’s football consciousness for eternity.

It was also in ‘86, when, having easily dispatched Paraguay 3-0 in the round of 16 at the same stadium, Bobby Robson’s

came up against Argentina in the quarters, going down 2-1 as Diego Maradona followed the infamous ‘Hand of God’ with arguably the finest goal in

history.

“I'm just coming from this match, and trying to enjoy, but it is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, most exciting fixtures than you can have,” head coach Thomas Tuchel said of

meeting

in the last 16.

“You play against

in the Azteca, and there will be a lot, a lot, a lot of obstacles waiting for us.

“Not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage, because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It's just impossible and more obstacles will maybe come.

“But we are ready for that, we need it maybe. We have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that, and when the going gets tough, that we will find the answers.”

Thomas Tuchel reveals 'huge disadvantage' as England face Mexico in World Cup last 16

When do England play Mexico in World Cup last 16?

Harry Kane rescues England with late double to sink DR Congo and book Mexico showdown

Football Today

Mexico set up potential England World Cup clash as Arsenal's Piero Hincapie sent off

Mexico dominate Ecuador in ominous World Cup display – and England could be next

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