STAR WORLD CUP PREVIEW Mon: Mexico v England

Mexico face England in the World Cup Round of 16 at the Azteca in the early hours of Monday morning, and it’s the co-hosts who look the more dangerous side going in, writes JOE CITRONE.

Thomas Tuchel’s men needed a Harry Kane double just to see off DR Congo in the last round, coming from behind before finally finding a way through in a game that flattered to deceive.

That’s been the story of the tournament for the Three Lions. They’ve been breached far too easily, shipping goals to Croatia, DR Congo and nearly Ghana too, and a defence that once looked England’s biggest strength now feels like their biggest worry heading into the business end of the World Cup.

Throw in the small matter of Mexico City sitting more than 2,200 metres above sea level, and this is about as tough a night as England could have been handed.

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Mexico v England
World Cup Round of 16
01:00 BBC One / BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport Website

HEAD-TO-HEAD
MAY 2010 FRIENDLY England 3-1 Mexico
MAY 2001 FRIENDLY England 4-0 Mexico
MAR 1997 FRIENDLY England 2-0 Mexico
MAY 1986 FRIENDLY England 3-0 Mexico
JUN 1985 FRIENDLY Mexico 1-0 England

MEXICO
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP Mexico 2-0 Ecuador
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Mexico 3-0 Czechia
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Mexico 1-0 South Korea
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP Mexico 2-0 South Africa
JUN 2026 FRIENDLY Mexico 5-1 Serbia

ENGLAND
JUL 2026 WORLD CUP England 2-1 DR Congo
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP England 2-0 Panama
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP England 0-0 Ghana
JUN 2026 WORLD CUP England 4-2 Croatia
JUN 2026 FRIENDLY Costa Rica 0-3 England

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Mexico, by contrast, haven’t lost a game on home soil throughout this tournament and have barely broken sweat doing it. Four wins from four, not a single goal conceded, and a crowd of 87,000 who’ll make the Azteca feel like a cauldron from kick-off.

Jude Bellingham and Kane have carried England for long spells this summer, but you can’t keep relying on moments of magic to paper over the cracks at the back. Mexico won’t offer the space Panama did, and if the hosts nick an early one in front of their own fans, this could get very uncomfortable for Tuchel’s men very quickly.

I strongly fancy Mexico to win this tie and progress through to the quarter-finals of this World Cup.

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