World Cup 2026: Why England is wary of the altitude factor before Mexico game

England manager Thomas Tuchel has admitted it is “impossible” for England to acclimatise to the altitude before Sunday’s FIFA World Cup round-of-16 clash against Mexico in Mexico City.

The Three Lions booked a meeting with the tournament co-hosts after fighting back from an early deficit to beat Congo DR 2-1 in Atlanta on Wednesday.

Brian Cipenga stunned England with a seventh-minute opener for Congo DR, but Harry Kane struck twice in the final 15 minutes to take his World Cup tally to 13 goals, moving ahead of Brazilian great Pelé. Five of those goals have come in this tournament.

Mexico hold altitude advantage

Mexico have played three of their four 2026 World Cup matches at the Azteca Stadium, situated around 2,240 metres (7,220 feet) above sea level. England, meanwhile, are based in Kansas City and have been travelling to each venue for their fixtures.

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Sources told ESPN that the squad will return to Kansas later on Wednesday before flying to Mexico City on Friday afternoon.

“I’m just coming from this match, and trying to enjoy, but it is maybe one of the most beautiful fixtures, most exciting fixtures than you can have,” Tuchel said of England's round-of-16 clash.

“You play against Mexico in the Azteca, and there will be a lot, a lot, a lot of obstacles waiting for us. Not to mention the altitude will be, of course, a big disadvantage, because we cannot physically adapt to it in four days. It’s just impossible and more obstacles will maybe come.”

“But we are ready for that, we need it maybe. We have the ideal platform now to genuinely believe that we are ready for that, and when the going gets tough, that we will find the answers.”

There have already been concerns over conditions in Mexico City. Ecuador lodged an official complaint with FIFA after fireworks were reportedly set off outside the team’s hotel in Mexico City on the eve of its 2-0 defeat to Mexico.

“I’m not sure if the travel will be smooth, if the sleep will be smooth, if there's noise outside the hotel,” Tuchel added.

Tuchel backs England’s preparation

“OK, bring it on. It’s a very beautiful and exciting fixture. There will be lots of obstacles but this team will be ready whatever it takes.”

Tuchel insisted, however, that England had already been preparing for the weather conditions since arriving in the United States for their pre-World Cup training camp in Florida.

“We came very early to the country, we came very early to the US, and banked good heat training into our bodies. That was basically the idea behind, to acclimatise, so the players have a lot, a lot of heat training already in their bodies,” the 52-year-old said.

“That would help them, so I think the heat and the humidity will not be the problem for us. We are used to that. We are used to that from training times, and we are used to it from our prep camp in Florida.”

“My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have. It just takes too much time. We have only three days in between this match. This is physically just not possible to adapt to the altitude, which is quite high.”

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“We knew that before, so this is just something, it’s just a disadvantage, with which we will have to deal, and I think we showed the attitude that we are ready for that, and from there we go.”

The winner of the Mexico-England tie will face either Brazil or Norway in the quarterfinals.

Kane inspires England comeback

Earlier, Captain Harry Kane struck twice in the final 15 minutes as England came from behind to beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 2-1 on Wednesday and book their place in the World Cup round of 16.

Kane once again proved decisive for England, heading home the equaliser in the 75th minute before firing in a superb winner four minutes from time after his side had spent more than an hour trailing in a gripping contest.

Brian Cipenga had stunned England with a seventh-minute opener for Congo DR, but Kane’s late double rescued his side from what had looked set to be a humiliating defeat.