World Cup 2026: England v Mexico latest - team news, Tuchel quotes & weather update

'I don't think altitude will be an issue' - Robinson

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was interviewed by BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Murray in the Azteca Stadium on Saturday, 24 hours before the pair are due to commentate on live coverage of Mexico v England.

They discussed the impact - or lack of it - they felt of being at high altitude, with the ground 2,240m above sea level.

"You [John Murray] were here for the opening game and you didn't really feel too much, did you? And we have been here two days now," said Robinson on BBC One.

"I mean, I am on the sixth floor of the hotel, you're on the fifth, and I think that's the most altitude that I have felt since I have been here.

"I think the word is the longer you stay here the more you feel it, so England, I think, have done right by arriving late. They will just play the game and then get out.

"So the way I am seeing it now, as an ex-player, looking at the atmosphere and the way that I feel, I don't think there is going to be an issue, I really don't."

'England will have to adjust their style to the energy-sapping conditions'

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

Sami Mokbel

BBC Sport Senior football correspondent on Football Daily

I don't think it makes sense for England to go chasing the game from the off.

They need to choose their moments and preserve as much energy as they can. To go hell for leather from the first whistle, that's just not sustainable.

They are going to have to be clever about it. They are going to have to go about the game in a different way than we would recognise a Thomas Tuchel side would normally do, in terms of being on the front foot, pressing and being proactive.

In the conditions they are going to be playing in - 2,240m above sea level - needs must. They are going to have to adjust their style, according to those energy-sapping conditions.

'Attitude' moans leave Liam Gallagher scratching his head

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

England manager Thomas Tuchel has had to work quite hard to bat off repeated questions about his players' preparedness to compete at altitude.

One reporter even suggested that Mexico had an "unfair" advantage.

Fortunately, not everyone is taking the circumstances of the Three Lions' round of 16 fixture so seriously.

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher is a serious football fan, and he's become a focus at this tournament as England fans have adopted his band's 90s hit Wonderwall as an anthem, singing along with the players after games.

Gallagher took to social media platform X to give his verdict on whether England should be concerned about the "bad attitude" reported in Mexico City.

"It'll be fine," he wrote.

It is true that Mexico's passionate home fans could cause havoc with England's preparations for the big match - think fireworks outside the hotel, flip flops thrown at the team bus - but it's not clear whether Liam knew what he was doing with this little jape.

When a fan pointed out that it was "altitude" and not "attitude" that could impact England, Gallagher replied: "Ah ok got ya...I’ve been sitting here scratching my head."

The singer is well known for his tongue-in-cheek barbs on X so maybe he deserves the benefit of the doubt on this one...

'No excuses' - Henderson

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

England

England midfielder Jordan Henderson was asked in his pre-match news conference whether he feels Mexico's players have an unfair advantage after playing all of their opening four World Cup matches at high altitude, while the Three Lions' squad have not had time to acclimatise:

"Well, the viagra helped (!) I'm joking, I'm joking. It's a joke!

"The gaffer's spot on, I think. As players, we're very adaptable and just get on with things.

"The kick-off time...whether we play at 12 noon, whether we play at six - it doesn't bother us. We're just here to do our job. And that's to be the best version of ourselves, to be together, to compete, to give everything for each other and the nation back home. To make them proud and to try and win a football game.

"Everything that we can't influence like kick-off times or altitude or stuff at the hotel - it's not in our control. So we just have to find solutions, which we're pretty good at and the staff are pretty good at. So for us it's about full focus on our job ahead. No excuses.

"We're ready to go and we want to come here and be the best version of ourselves tomorrow. If we do that we'll have a good chance of winning."

England have 'pure will' to overcome obstacles - Tuchel

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, in his pre-match news conference, on whether preparation for this game has been more complicated than other games:

"It's like so often, there's so much noise. When you're inside of the bubble it's actually quite calm and quite focused. The bigger the noises, the bigger the stadiums, the bigger the tension - the calmer the preparation.

"I think the players were not even aware there was a possible change of kick off. This example just shows you not to lose your head. You cannot influence it. Three-and-a-half hours later, you land in Mexico and kick-off time stayed the same.

"It's not worth losing our head. Altitude, home crowd, it is what it is. It's not in our favour. We need to overcome obstacles. But we have the spirit, we have the commitment, we have the pure will and the glue in the team to overcome these things. That's why I'm positive.

"We know what's coming. The players will feel it. We will all feel it tomorrow when the energy is on. But that's also the beauty of it. We focus completely on what is possible to be influenced by us."

'We have needed a jumper or a coat' - Robinson on Mexico City temperatures

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson provided a weather update from inside the Azteca Stadium on BBC One.

He was speaking at the end of the BBC broadcast, following the France v Paraguay game, in the early hours of Sunday morning, about 24 hours before the Three Lions are due to face co-hosts Mexico.

He compared the "favourable conditions" and temperature as similar to an average summer's evening back in the UK.

"Since we have been here in Mexico City it [the temperature] has been very, very pleasant," said the former Leeds and Spurs stopper.

"We have needed a jumper or a coat on in the evening and I don't think England are going to have a problem.

"In that respect, they have been very, very lucky - playing in enclosed stadiums, while the two games they have played in in the open air it's poured with rain.

"Here, tomorrow [Sunday local time], I think the conditions are going to be very favourable, if the heavy rain stays away."

Tuchel feels 'very alive' amid first World Cup experience

Mexico v England (Mon, 01:00 BST)

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel was asked to describe his first World Cup as England manager and what has challenged him the most:

"It's an unbelievable experience to be honest.

"I am living in a bubble, doing what I love the most on a daily basis, having these amazing players around me that I selected. I'm so grateful for it, to have these amazing characters, these amazing players every day around me, feeling the energy, planning training, seeing training, analysing training, trying and helping and supporting and then going through the matches, going out of the bubble, going to a venue, seeing the excitement, seeing the England fans, seeing them sing, seeing the connection between the team and the fans.

"Then you go back into your bubble and prepare the next match. It's a very unique experience. And then you step out in a venue like this just now before and you know that you're in such an iconic place and you have the chance to be part of it. I'm very grateful for that. It makes me feel very alive.

"It hopefully brings out the best in myself because I want to live up to the expectations that I have for myself and the trust that anyone puts in me. But I think we are there and it's a fantastic experience."

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