Thomas Tuchel’s side will need to step up significantly in likely inclement weather against opponents who have won all four games at this World Cup so far without conceding a single goal, backed all the way by home advantage and a passionate partisan crowd.
Tonight’s game is being held on one of football’s very grandest stages. Here’s everything you need to know about the iconic and formidable Estadio Azteca.
The Estadio Azteca – mostly known just as the Azteca – is located in the Santa Ursula Coapa neighbourhood of Coyoacan, which is one of the 16 boroughs that makes up Mexico’s capital, Mexico City.
Taking it all in: Thomas Tuchel and Jordan Henderson survey the Estadio Azteca before England’s last-16 tie
Getty
When was the last time Mexico lost at Estadio Azteca?
Mexico have not lost a single competitive fixture at their high-altitude fortress since September 2013, when they were stunned 2-1 by Honduras during the fourth round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Oribe Peralta’s early goal was cancelled out by Jerry Bengtson and Carlos Costly, with Mexico later left needing to enter the inter-confederation play-offs, where they thrashed New Zealand over two legs, 9-3 on aggregate, to reach the finals.
How many games have Mexico lost at Estadio Azteca?
That loss to Honduras was only the second time Mexico have ever been beaten in a competitive fixture at the Estadio Azteca.
The first time was all the way back in June 2001, when they were upset 2-1 by Costa Rica in the final round of qualifying for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.
Again they took an early lead, through Jose Manuel Abundis, only to be pegged back by Rolando Fonseca and Hernan Medford late on.
It was a major victory for Costa Rica and an almost an all-time low for Mexican football at the time, dubbed ‘Aztecazo’ in the jubilant Costa Rican press.
Upset: Carlos Costly celebrates scoring the winning goal for Honduras against Mexico in September 2013
GETTY
Though the quality of the regular opposition Mexico play in qualification in the CONCACAF region can certainly be called into question, only two defeats in 89 competitive matches overall nevertheless is a formidable record that has stood for six decades since it first opened in the year of England’s only World Cup triumph to date – 1966.
70 of those 89 contests ended in wins, with 17 draws.
Mexico have also won eight, drawn two and lost none of their 10 matches in World Cup finals at the Azteca, which encompasses the 1970, 1986 and 2026 tournaments.
The often-touted record does not include friendlies, though, with Hungary, Brazil, Italy, Peru, Chile and Spain all having won at the Azteca since it opened.
What altitude is Estadio Azteca and how high is it above sea level?
Many people put Mexico’s frightening record at the Azteca at least down in part to the sheer difficulty of playing at such high altitude.
The ground sits at some 7,220 feet above sea level, which is 2,240 metres.
Why is it called Estadio Azteca?
It is a straightforward nod to Mexico’s Aztec heritage and was decided during a naming competition run by the Mexican postal service.
You may have heard it referred to as simply Mexico City Stadium during this World Cup, in line with FIFA’s naming and sponsorship policy at major tournaments.
It is technically the Estadio Banorte, courtesy of a sponsorship deal with Mexican financial and banking services company Banorte, which was agreed last year in a bid to help fund the necessary remodelling for the tournament.
It was briefly known as the Estadio Guillermo Canedo in 1997 following the death of Guillermo Canedo, a significant figure in Mexican football.
It’s sheer size and location in the Santa Ursula neighbourhood of Coyoacan also sees it often colloquially referred to as Coloso de Santa Ursula (Colossus of Santa Ursula).
Have England played at Estadio Azteca before?
Yes, twice – but not for 40 years now.
The most famous occasion was in front of 114,000 people in the World Cup quarter-finals in 1986, when a prime Diego Maradona scored his infamous ‘Hand of God’ and then quite possibly the most iconic goal in football history in the span of four devastating second-half minutes for eventual champions Argentina.
Gary Lineker notched a late reply for England in a highly-charged game which took place just four years after the Falklands War.
Iconic moment: Diego Maradona scores arguably the greatest goal in World Cup history against England in 1986
AFP/Getty Images
The Three Lions’ first game at the Azteca had been the round before, when they beat Paraguay 3-0 thanks to Golden Boot winner Lineker’s brace and an effort from Peter Beardsley. The crowd that day was almost 99,000.
There is a threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms around the Azteca again on Sunday, which could lead to England vs Mexico being delayed.
Kick-off was pushed back by an hour for Mexico’s 2-0 last-32 win over Ecuador on Tuesday – their first victory in a World Cup knockout match since 1986.
The Azteca pulled in crowds well in excess of 100,000 people during its World Cup heyday in 1970 and 1986, but these days its official capacity is 87,523.
For this tournament specifically, it is 80,824.
Why is Estadio Azteca famous?
There is arguably no other stadium that is quite so richly steeped in World Cup folklore as the Azteca, which can lay claim to being the only venue at which both Pele and Maradona – for so long the sport’s two biggest icons – lifted the trophy.
England will be hoping to write a new, different chapter in its history tonight.
