England are set to play at the Azteca Stadium for the first time in 40 years when they face Mexico in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The iconic venue in Mexico City has hosted several memorable England matches, most notably the 1986 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina, which featured Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal and his stunning solo effort.
Early visits: 1969 and 1985
England first visited the Azteca in 1969 for a friendly against Mexico, part of an end-of-season tour ahead of the 1970 World Cup. A crowd of 105,000 watched a goalless draw in stifling midday heat. The match was described as drab, with both teams struggling in the conditions.
In June 1985, England participated in the 'Aztec 2000' tournament alongside Mexico and West Germany, as well as a concurrent 'Ciudad de México Cup' featuring Italy. England lost 2-1 to Italy on 6 June, with a controversial late penalty by Alessandro Altobelli in front of just 8,000 spectators. Three days later, England slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Mexico, heaping pressure on manager Bobby Robson.
Victory over West Germany
On 12 June 1985, England faced West Germany in another afternoon kick-off under the blistering sun. Despite the heat, England dominated, winning 3-0 with goals from Bryan Robson and Kerry Dixon. Manager Bobby Robson was seen chatting with his West German counterpart Franz Beckenbauer after the match.
1986 World Cup: Paraguay and Argentina
England reached the last 16 of the 1986 World Cup after a difficult group stage, losing to Portugal, drawing with Morocco, and beating Poland. In the round of 16 at the Azteca, Gary Lineker scored twice in a 3-0 victory over Paraguay, en route to winning the Golden Boot. Peter Beardsley also scored.
The quarter-final against Argentina on 22 June 1986 is one of the most famous matches in World Cup history. Played in front of 114,000 fans at noon in energy-sapping heat, the game saw Maradona score two iconic goals. The first, in the 51st minute, was the 'Hand of God' – Maradona punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton. Despite protests, referee Ali Bin Nasser awarded the goal. Maradona later said: 'I knew it was my hand. It wasn't my plan but the action happened so fast.'
Four minutes later, Maradona scored what is widely considered the greatest goal of all time, dribbling past four England players from his own half before slotting home. Gary Lineker pulled one back for England, but Argentina held on for a 2-1 victory.
Reaction and legacy
After the match, England manager Bobby Robson said of Maradona's handball: 'It wasn't the hand of God, it was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it.' The defeat was a bitter blow for England, who had hoped to go further in the tournament. Players like Glenn Hoddle, Gary Lineker, and Terry Fenwick were seen trudging off the pitch in disappointment.
England's return to the Azteca in 2026 marks a full-circle moment, as they seek to create new memories in a stadium steeped in history.
