The England national football team is adapting to the high altitude of Mexico City ahead of their upcoming match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, which sits 2,240 meters above sea level.
England manager Thomas Tuchel detailed his personal experiences with the high altitude during a press conference on July 5, 2026, noting that the conditions have already physically impacted the squad during their early arrival.
"I felt some headache today when I was in the hotel.
I also didn't sleep as well as the previous days, but there's very little you can do about it.
We can't change the conditions," said Tuchel.
Tuchel explained that the coaching staff deliberately planned the team's arrival one day before the match to ensure the players could acclimatize to the environment before kickoff.
"The players also felt the difference, especially in the first minutes of training. After that, they handled it well.
It is what it is, we can't do much physically.
We came here a day before the match so we don't experience it for the first time during the game.
We expect an aggressive start from Mexico; if we survive that, we have a good chance," said Tuchel.
Regarding tactical preparations, Tuchel affirmed that the English squad has conducted thorough analyses on their opponents, specifically preparing for a potential penalty shootout scenario.
"We know everything. We know everything about every player.
The goalkeepers are well prepared if it comes to that. We know what's going to happen.
But they also know everything; that's part of modern football. Everything is available for analysis," said Tuchel.
The Estadio Azteca holds historical significance as the venue where Diego Maradona scored his famous "Hand of God" goal against England during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals, though Tuchel dismissed any narrative of revenge.
"It's an iconic goal and it was hugely unfair for the English team. That still hurts, but taking revenge doesn't make sense.
It's the same stadium, but not the same opponent. We want to write our own chapter," said Tuchel.
England midfielder Jordan Henderson also attended the press conference, expressing optimism about the upcoming fixture despite the difficult playing conditions.
"A match doesn't get much bigger than this. In this stadium, against Mexico.
We have to stay focused, but it's going to be very tough.
I hope this brings out the best in us, and then I'm sure we'll get a good result," said Henderson.
