Mexico and England Arrive at Azteca, Kick-off Potentially Delayed

Mexico and England are set to clash at the Estadio Azteca in a highly anticipated World Cup Round of 16 encounter. A spot in the quarterfinals is on the line, where the victor will face Norway, who earlier eliminated Brazil. The match is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 AM Bulgarian time, though a delay remains a possibility.

Last night, there was consideration to move the Round of 16 match six hours earlier, to 9:00 PM Bulgarian time. This was due to forecasts predicting a 90% chance of a lightning storm at the originally scheduled kick-off. However, both teams reacted strongly, as such a change would disrupt their preparation schedules. Furthermore, thousands of fans had planned their travel around the original start time, and a six-hour shift would jeopardize their timely arrival at the stadium. Consequently, the original kick-off time was maintained. According to reports in English media, the anticipated storm in Mexico City began shortly before midnight Bulgarian time. This triggered the lightning safety protocol. The arrival of players from both teams was delayed for a period, but they have now reached the Azteca.

For the Three Lions, this isn't just another game; it's a return to the site of their greatest nightmare, where 40 years ago, Diego Maradona crushed their hopes with the infamous "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century."

Mexico is currently enjoying one of its best periods in history. Javier Aguirre's squad has won all four of their matches in the tournament so far, impressively keeping a clean sheet throughout. After victories over South Africa (2-0), South Korea (1-0), and the Czech Republic (3-0) in the group stage, "El Tri" eliminated Ecuador with a 2-0 win in the first round of the knockout stage.

The statistics at the Azteca are daunting for any visiting team: Mexico boasts 70 wins and only 2 losses in official matches played at this stadium. In World Cup tournaments, the Mexicans remain undefeated on home turf, with eight wins and two draws to their name. Adding to this challenge is the extreme altitude of 2,240 meters, which makes breathing difficult for unacclimatized athletes.

However, England has won their last eight direct encounters against Mexico. In the first knockout round, the Three Lions overcame DR Congo with a 2-1 comeback victory. Thomas Tuchel's side has recorded three wins and one draw in their four matches at the 2026 World Cup.

Tuchel has made three changes to his starting lineup compared to the Round of 32 match against Congo. Jarell Quansah has recovered and starts at right-back, replacing Djed Spence. Bukayo Saka and Anthony Gordon come in on the wings, taking the places of Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford.