England face Mexico at the Azteca: Kickoff, altitude and weather explained
England's round-of-16 match against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City is the most talked-about fixture of this knockout round, with discussions ranging from the kickoff time to the high altitude and the risk of adverse weather. The match will kick off at 6pm on Sunday in Mexico City, which is 1am on Monday in London (00:00 GMT), as reported by Al Jazeera.
Coverage comparison
Two news organisations, Al Jazeera and France 24 – English, have provided detailed previews of the match. Al Jazeera focuses on the practical challenges England will face, including the stadium's altitude and potential weather issues, while France 24 – English emphasises the historical context, recalling England's past traumatic experiences on Mexican soil and the daunting task they face.
Al Jazeera reports that FIFA considered moving the kickoff from 6pm local time to midday due to concerns over forecast storms and flooding in Mexico City on Sunday, but ultimately decided to stick with the scheduled time. Moving the match would have delayed Brazil vs Norway on the same day in New York/New Jersey, according to Al Jazeera.
France 24 – English highlights England's underwhelming performances so far in the tournament and their lack of competitive matches at the Azteca since the 1986 quarter-final defeat to Argentina, when 112,000 fans witnessed Diego Maradona's famous goals, including the "Hand of God" goal.
Key claims
The Azteca Stadium, with a capacity of 80,000, is the largest in Latin America and a fortress-like home for Mexico, who have lost just two of their 89 competitive games there, as reported by both Al Jazeera and France 24 – English. According to stats provider Opta, Mexico are unbeaten in their last 22 competitive matches there, with 16 wins and six draws.
The stadium is located at an altitude of 2,240 metres (7,350 feet) above sea level, as stated by Al Jazeera. France 24 – English gives the altitude as 2,200 metres (7,220 feet), a slight discrepancy between the two outlets. The high altitude impairs aerobic capacity, making it harder for footballers to breathe and recover, Al Jazeera reported.
England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the challenge posed by the altitude, saying, "It is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, the most exciting fixtures that you can have, to play against Mexico in the Azteca. And there will be 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." His comments were reported by both Al Jazeera and France 24 – English.
Mexico have won their first four World Cup matches without conceding a goal, a feat previously achieved only by Brazil in 1986 and Italy in 1990, according to France 24 – English. The fervent support of Mexican fans can be a disruption to opposing teams, with examples of loud celebrations and sleepless nights for players, the same source reported.
England's journey to the Azteca has been far from smooth, with a thrilling opening defeat of Croatia followed by a draw against Ghana, a battling win over Panama, and an almighty scare against DR Congo in the round of 32, as described by France 24 – English.