The Mexican team faces one of its biggest challenges this Sunday in the 2026 World Cup when it hosts England at the Azteca Stadium, where a ticket to the quarterfinals will be at stake.

The team led by Javier Aguirre arrives with confidence after having an impeccable start to the tournament. They have four consecutive victories and have shown one of the most solid defenses in the competition, after beating Ecuador 2-0 in the round of 32 with goals from Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez.

England arrives in demand and with Harry Kane as a reference

The English team advanced to the round of 16 after a difficult match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where they needed a comeback led by Harry Kane, author of a double in the final minutes.

The Bayern Munich forward has five goals in the 2026 World Cup and represents the main threat to the Mexican defense.

In addition to Kane, Thomas Tuchel's team has figures such as Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice, who will seek to impose conditions in the midfield.

The altitude of the Azteca Stadium, a factor that can tip the balance

One of the aspects that has generated the most attention in the preview is the altitude of the Azteca Stadium, located more than 2,200 meters above sea level.

Although Declan Rice assured that the stage represents “one more stadium”, Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that the physical conditions will be a challenge for his team.

On the eve of the match, Mexican fans went to the vicinity of the England concentration hotel with drums, trumpets and fireworks to try to disrupt the rest of the European team.

Mexico bets on its strength at home

The Mexican team will try to take advantage of the support of its fans and a stage where it has built some of its best World Cup memories.

In the history of the World Cup, the national team has never lost a match at the Azteca Stadium, where it has eight wins and two draws, with 18 goals scored and only two conceded.

In addition, Mexico already defeated England in that building during a friendly match played in 1985.

The players who can define the match

Raúl Jiménez is going through a great offensive moment and has scored 48 goals with the Mexican team, seven of them at the Azteca Stadium. At his side, Julián Quiñones, Gilberto Mora and Roberto Alvarado will seek to generate danger against an English defense that has shown some doubts.

On the other side, Harry Kane arrives as one of the tournament's top offensive references, while Jude Bellingham will be in charge of setting the pace of the English midfield.

Background between Mexico and England

Mexico and England have faced each other 10 times, with seven victories for the English, one draw and two wins for the Mexican team.

In World Cups, there is only one precedent: England's 2-0 victory in the group stage of the 1966 tournament.

Now, almost six decades later, both teams will meet again in a duel that will define one of the qualifiers for the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.

Match schedule and broadcast

Time in the United States: 8:00 p.m. ET and 7:00 p.m. PT.

Broadcast in the United States: FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One, SiriusXM FC and Futbol de Primera Radio.