England will face Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium in the World Cup last-16 on Sunday, a fixture that evokes memories of Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal from 1986. The match, set for 5 July in Mexico City, pits Thomas Tuchel's side against a host nation with a formidable home record.
England's Path to the Azteca
England secured their spot by topping Group L and winning their last-32 tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday. Harry Kane scored two late goals to overturn a deficit. Mexico had earlier swept past Ecuador in a thunderous night at the Azteca, ensuring they would host England in the knockout stage.
The altitude of 2,240 metres above sea level is a key factor, often leaving opponents struggling for breath. Mexico have lost only eight of nearly 150 matches at the Azteca, with their last defeat in September 2013. Their unbeaten run now stands at 26 games, including three wins in this tournament.
The Ghost of the Hand of God
For England fans, the Azteca is synonymous with Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal in the 1986 World Cup quarter-final. Maradona punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton to give Argentina a 1-0 lead, later adding a stunning second goal in a 2-1 victory. The match remains a painful memory for English supporters.
Tuchel, who was 12 at the time, recalled watching the tournament in Germany. 'It was not only English people,' he said. 'Even me. I didn't have a connection to English football in those days but even I know this moment. I remember, of course, the World Cup of Maradona. The two goals against England. The one dribbling and the one … yeah, which would never stand these days.'
Tuchel sees the match as a chance to exorcise those ghosts. 'It will reward us,' he said. 'We will get it back. Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around.' He added: 'It's an iconic stadium. Germany played there in the final. So I'm super excited to have this match. It's an iconic match to have in Mexico against Mexico. We will play against the whole country, against the energy of the whole country, in their stadium.'
Mexico's Fearsome Home Record
Mexico have played 10 World Cup matches at the Azteca (1970, 1986, and 2026), winning eight and drawing two, with eight clean sheets. They have not lost at the stadium since 2013. England have played six matches there, including a draw (1969) and a loss (1985) to Mexico, and a 3-0 win over Paraguay in the 1986 World Cup last-16.
The local excitement is palpable. Cafes in Mexico City celebrated England's win over DRC, as fans preferred to face a higher-profile opponent. 'They want to take a big scalp,' the article notes. 'The attitude is 'bring on England'.'
What's at Stake
For England, the match represents a chance to rewrite history at a stadium that holds bitter memories. Tuchel's squad will face not only a formidable opponent but also the energy of 80,824 fanatics. The manager remains optimistic, drawing on his own childhood memories of the 1986 World Cup. 'I just love football and the old tournaments,' he said. 'These pictures from Mexico … they are in St George's Park where we stay in the hotel. These big framed pictures of Gary Lineker scoring, of the coaches, of Peter Shilton. They are big pieces of history. This is a good moment to make our peace with the stadium and turn things around.'
