Tuchel recognizes that the altitude of the Azteca is an advantage for Mexico

The height of the Azteca worries Tuchel, who admits that there is no time to acclimatize.

The altitude factor in the World Cup

The Azteca Stadium, site of the round of 16 match between Mexico and England, rises almost 2,300 meters above sea level. For the English, the adaptation time is insufficient. Coach Thomas Tuchel put it bluntly:

“As I understand it, we can’t adapt to the altitude. That’s a huge advantage Mexico will have. It just takes too long.”

Sports specialists recommend at least two weeks of acclimatization or the strategy of arriving just before the game. England opted for a camp in Florida to acclimatize to the heat, but will fly to Mexico on Friday, just two days before the game.

RelatedEngland faces the 2026 World Cup with Tuchel as new coach

Memories of the past

The Azteca also weighs because of history. In 1986, Diego Maradona scored two goals there against England: the “Hand of God” goal and what many consider the best goal in history. Tuchel believes that karma can change:

“We will get it back. It’s karma. Karma will come back to us. We will turn it around.”

Mexico is undefeated in 10 World Cup matches at its home stadium. In addition, hydration breaks – which Tuchel uses to his advantage – could be key. In the round of 32, England came back against Congo after an early goal, just after one of those breaks.

Sunday’s duel will be a test of physical and mental endurance. England arrives with the urgency to overcome the height and weight of history.

The feat of Cape Verde and its goalkeeper Vozinha in the World Cup

The 40-year-old goalkeeper almost caused a historic surprise against Argentina.

The Cape Verde goalkeeper, Vozinha, achieved his goal: for his mother to see him play in the World Cup. And with his performance, he went much further.

An unforgettable performance

The Blue Sharks did not win a single game, but their debut was unforgettable. The African team, the smallest in territorial area to reach a World Cup, drew goalless against Spain and then added two more draws to qualify for the round of 16. There they fell 3-2 against Argentina in extra time, with a goal and an assist from Messi.

Vozinha, 40 years old, grew bigger. Against the best player in the world, he made at least four key saves in the last 60 minutes: a point-blank shot that he absorbed with his body, a free kick that he brushed with his hand, a low shot in stoppage time and a powerful shot in extra time. Each intervention kept his team alive.

Cape Verde, with a population equivalent to 1% of Argentina’s, will receive 11 million dollars from FIFA. More than money, the Blue Sharks earned a place in world football memory.

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Mexico vs England schedule remains at 6:00 p.m.

FIFA considered moving the game forward due to a storm, but in the end there was no change.

FIFA decides to maintain the Mexico vs England schedule

The uncertainty about the schedule of the round of 16 match between Mexico and England at the 2026 World Cup ended this Friday. FIFA had evaluated advancing the opening whistle to 12:00 p.m., central Mexico time, to avoid the risk of an afternoon thunderstorm. However, after several deliberations, the organization determined that the match be played at 6:00 p.m., as originally scheduled at the Mexico City Stadium.

The possibility of the change generated annoyance in the Tricolor coach, Javier Aguirre. In a local interview, he called the potential modification a “kick in the gut.”

“FIFA rules, it’s garlic and water. The whole plan, all the work will have to be changed, not that it’s going to hell but almost because you’re swallowing up six hours that you had scheduled. I don’t like it at all,” reproached the Mexican strategist.

On the English side, forward Marcus Rashford maintained a more composed posture before traveling from Kansas City to the Mexican capital. He told the media that competing at noon “is not ideal”, but assured that the British squad has the capacity to adapt thanks to its rigorous preparation, which does not change regardless of the time of the match.

With this decision, the duel between Mexico and England will be played at its original time. Both teams will have to adjust their plans based on confirmation from FIFA.

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Gilberto Mora shines in the World Cup; Manchester United withdraws from the bid

The Xolos youth player dazzles in the World Cup while two English giants fight to sign him.

Gilberto Mora has become one of the Mexican revelations of the World Cup. At just 17 years old, the Xolos de Tijuana midfielder is a regular in Javier Aguirre’s lineups. He has taken advantage of every opportunity to demonstrate his talent and establish himself as a key player in the Tricolor.

The future of Gilberto Mora

After his performance against Ecuador, when he left the Mexico City Stadium to applause, doubts arose again about his next step. The young man will come of age after the tournament, and several European clubs are following him.

However, Manchester United decided to curb their interest. According to the Mirror newspaper, the English team analyzed the cost of his incorporation and considered that the operation would become too expensive after his World Cup appearance.

Despite that, the outlook for Mora is encouraging. The same report indicates that Manchester City and Chelsea are leading the dispute to sign one of the greatest promises in Mexican soccer. His performance in the World Cup has been fundamental for the team, and his future seems promising on the international stage.

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