England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, asked what he knows about the Mexican national team:

"We know everything about the Mexican team. I think they're now in the top 10 in the world? in the rankings. They have some good results in the last matches, not only now in the World Cup, but especially since March, when they played Belgium, Portugal - top tier nations. We saw and analysed these matches.

"They are flexible in their approach. They change their defensive formations in the match from high pressure to low pressure. They do this very fluently. When they attack they normally attack with a lot of players in the middle of the pitch. They love to bring their wingers inside. They have a lot of rotations that we are aware of. They are never shy to play directly into [Raul] Jimenez and start the attacks from there.

"So I think we are prepared. We saw the strengths. We try to exploit weakness like always, but we are full of respect, but we also believe in us. If we analyse Mexico we are fully aware that we need to put a strong performance together. We need to play the best version of offensively and defensively that we showed until now in moments of every match - but tomorrow we will bring it together for a top performance that we need to achieve our goal to beat Mexico."

Image source, Getty Images

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, asked about his side's competitive advantages and the challenges his team will face:

"What can I share? Not so much.

"What I can share is I can agree with Jordan.

"As soon as we arrive, you arrive one day before, you change country, you fly into another home country, you feel the energy of the place. You land in Mexico City and straight away you see the people on the side of the streets, getting a glimpse of the bus. You see the people in front of the hotel.

"It's just a different animal of game.

"And it just makes you sharper, it brings the best out of you, it makes you feel alive, all of us. Seeing the players today in training, the focus is on the highest level, every little detail is on highest level. You feel the excitement in the eyes, everyone is trying to push, wants to start tomorrow. You feel the excitement. It's just a next level setting.

"We are very well aware what we are facing tomorrow, we try to find solutions on the pitch. I think we still have room to grow in our offensive and defensive games - to pick ouf moments better, to be a bit more compact. To be better timings in attacking.

"Overall we are in a good place and we are very very close to putting it all together for a win tomorrow."

Image source, Getty Images

Flora Snelson
BBC Sport Journalist

Mark, I feel similarly.

And I think what you've just written could well have been Thomas Tuchel's 'honest answer' to the many questions on these themes that he faced from the media. Were he not so polite.

Unfortunately, reporters are a sucker for a story and you just can't deny the allure of the Azteca narrative. Or the suggestion that England's finest footballers might simply run out of puff.

We'll bring you the footballing insights you crave shortly but let's see what happens when a journalist asked the England boss for the inside scoop on his team's tactical preparations...

Mexico are unbeaten in the 10 matches they have played at Estadio Azteca across three World Cup finals.

They have won eight times and drawn twice, scoring 16 goals and only conceding two:

• 1970 World Cup: Mexico 0-0 Soviet Union (group stage)
• 1970 World Cup: Mexico 4-0 El Salvador (group stage)
• 1970 World Cup: Mexico 1-0 Belgium (group stage)
• 1986 World Cup: Mexico 2-1 Belgium (group stage)
• 1986 World Cup: Mexico 1-1 Paraguay (group stage)
• 1986 World Cup: Mexico 1-0 Iraq (group stage)
• 1986 World Cup: Mexico 2-0 Bulgaria (round of 16)
• 2026 World Cup: Mexico 2-0 South Africa (group stage)
• 2026 World Cup: Mexico 3-0 Czech Republic (group stage)
• 2026 World Cup: Mexico 2-0 Ecuador (round of 32)

Alan Shearer
Former England striker

I've heard a lot of talk about the difficult conditions England will face at the Azteca Stadium - but I don't think the players will be worried about any of that.

Instead of having any fear about the different tests they face, they will just be thinking 'bring it on'. I know I would be.

All the talk stops when they run out anyway, and if they play the game rather than the occasion then I think they will win.

Yes, it's going to be tough, because of the altitude and the atmosphere and everything else. Co-hosts Mexico are at home and the crowd could be as much as 80% of their fans, which is very different to anything England have faced at this tournament so far.

But as a player, these are the kind of games and moments you train and work so hard for all your life because to be going to such an iconic stadium and playing in a World Cup in front of a TV audience of millions, with a place in the quarter-finals as the prize, is what you dream of as a boy.

I've wanted to go to the Azteca since I watched the 1986 World Cup on TV as a teenager and this is the first time England have been back since losing that epic quarter-final tie to Argentina. It's going to be an amazing spectacle as well as a unique test.

I have followed England around the United States at this World Cup, and we have had the majority of fans at all four matches so far.

Against DR Congo in Atlanta, around 75% of the crowd were supporting England, but this is going to feel very different and is another reason why it's such an incredible game to look forward to.

I'll be there, co-commentating with Guy Mowbray, and am excited about it as much as the fans are. I bet the players are excited too.

Yes, it's a challenge but I would say to them to embrace it and enjoy it - be positive and show us all what you can do.

Mexico v England represents the 11th time Le Tri have played at the Estadio Azteca at the World Cup, which will make it the most games played at one venue by a team in the competition’s history.

Image source, Getty Images

England

England midfielder Jordan Henderson on whether the occasion inspires him:

"Definitely. It's a huge occasion. It doesn't get much better or bigger than playing Mexico in Mexico City in this stadium. No words really. It's an incredible occasion for everyone and for us as a team.

"It's about staying focused on what our objective is - to come here and win the game. Of course that comes with challenges. Mexico are a very good side with very good players. It''ll be a really tough test but every game in the World Cup is difficult.

"Everybody's looking forward to coming and playing this game tomorrow. I hope it brings the best out of us and if it does then I'm sure we can get a good result."

Image source, Getty Images

The Azteca is a purpose-built football stadium, but some of its most special moments have had nothing to do with the game.

In 1993 it was home to the largest crowd in championship boxing history, when 132,274 people watched national hero Julio Cesar Chavez knock out Greg Hauger to retain the WBC super lightweight title.

"It was the most incredible night of my entire career and my life," Cesar Chavez said. "Being there in the middle of the ring is something unbelievable."

The same year, Michael Jackson headlined five nights of his Dangerous World Tour at the Azteca, performing to a total of 550,000 people.

And in 1999 a mass held by Pope John Paul II in the heart of devoutly Catholic Mexico brought a crowd of over 110,000 to the stadium.

Image source, Getty Images

After the fireworks ended at Pope John Paul II's Azteca mass, he was given a rapturous ovation by the congregation which lasted for over 15 minutes as he was driven around the stadium in the Popemobile.

"People who know me will attest I'm a little fond of football," the Pope said at the mass. "It is a privilege to be here, where I watched such beautiful football."

Whether it be sport, music, or religion, the Azteca is built for moments when masses of people come together to feel alive.

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, asked whether England's defeat by Argentina in 1986 motivates him or his players:

"Everyone remembers the goal. Two iconic goals in the stadium, in a huge disadvantage for the English team. Of course this is painful and it still hurts but we are not here for revenge. It doesn't make sense.

"It's the same stadium, it's not the same opponent - and even then, it doesn't make sense.

"We are here to write our own chapters. The team is ready, we are in good spirits and we are ready to go for tomorrow."

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel Austin
BBC Sport

The Azteca is the only stadium to have hosted matches in three different editions of the World Cup - 1970, 1986 and 2026.

The first two featured some of the most iconic matches and goals in World Cup history.

The 1970 semi-final between Italy and West Germany is regarded by many as the greatest match ever played. It was 1-1 after 90 minutes, before five goals were scored in extra time, with the Italians winning 4-3.

But in the final they were defeated by Pele - winning the World Cup for the third time - and his Brazil team-mates in a side still cited as one of the greatest teams of all time.

Brazil won 4-1, and their final goal - rocketed into the far corner by full-back Carlos Alberto - was a beautiful passing move in which all but three players touched the ball, and is considered one of the best team goals ever scored.

"The atmosphere, the noise at that final was unbelievable," Alberto later said. "Wonderful, indescribable."

Image source, Getty Images

Pele scored four goals and made six assists in the 1970 tournament, and remains the only player to have won the World Cup three times

Sixteen years later Mexico was selected to host the tournament again, and this time it was Argentina and Maradona who shone in the Azteca spotlight.

Aged 25 and having moved to Napoli from Barcelona the year prior, Maradona delivered possibly the most dominant tournament performance in football history, scoring five goals and making five assists, to win his country's second trophy.

Against England in the quarter-final he scored two goals which are among the most famous moments in sporting history, for different reasons.

Firstly, Maradona opened the scoring in the second half with his notorious 'hand of God' goal by punching a miscued back pass with his hand past Peter Shilton and into the net.

Four minutes later, he picked the ball up inside the centre circle in Argentina's half with his back to goal. Within 11 seconds, he had danced past five England players, rounded the goalkeeper, and slipped the ball into the back of the net entirely on his own.

All four sides of the Azteca roared in adulation and astonishment as El Diego ran towards the corner flag in celebration.

In 2016, four years before his death, Maradona called it the most important match of his career.

Image source, Getty Images

Dion Dublin
Former England striker on Football Daily

Do you know what? It's just about doing what needs to be done.

Honestly, sometimes when you have to get a result, then you go for the throat. You have to go high press, you have to go together, there has to be a trigger and you go together.

Then sometimes you just have to feel the game out.

The main thing is, don't get sucked into the atmosphere. The atmosphere and the noise is going to be bizarre in the stadium. All the noise will all be for Mexico, so you cannot be sucked into that.

In terms of a game plan, you just have to try to do what the manager tells you to do to the letter and make it work. Then England will have a chance.

Image source, Getty Images

England

England midfielder Jordan Henderson on how fan expectations have changed across his four World Cups, and how that impacts the team:

"I suppose that's probably the biggest thing that's changed. My first World Cup was 2014 in Brazil. Compared to now, the expectation is a lot different, definitely. 2018 in Russia was a good year for us, to get to the semi-final I don't think many people expected that and I felt that that brought the team and the nation closer together, that period.

"From there, we've built on that, we've went from strength to strength, managed to get into two European finals. We've not managed to get it over the line but you can see the lads and the culture and everything was growing and getting bigger and the connection with the fans has just been getting stronger and stronger.

"I think this World Cup shows the connection with the fans. The singing after the game the other day was such an amazing moment for all of us - even for me, who's played a lot of games. That's a special moment that we'll remember forever. That's what the World Cup is all about - creating special moments. Hopefully we can create another special moment tomorrow."

Image source, Getty Images

England defender Marc Guehi on the challenge of playing in Mexico City at the Azteca.

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, asked whether England having played home games at Wembley is good preparation for a match at an iconic stadium such as Estadio Azteca:

"I think it is more difficult in some stadiums. I'm totally aware of that from club football. It takes a lot of courage to put out a top performance at the Azteca against Mexico.

"But we have a brave team. We have an experienced team. We have a young team who are ready to take these challenges on the front foot. But there exists on some stages in iconic stadiums in club football or internationally, it is more difficult to put out a top performance. This stadium here and this environment here and to play against the home country is for sure one of them.

"But like I said, I trust the players 100%. I see their quality, they do it on club level, they do it on international level in Champions League. That's what we build on.

"We need to walk the walk tomorrow. When the going gets tough, we will be there. But I am very confident that it will bring out the best version of our team."

Image source, Getty Images

Mexico fan Ricardo Pacheco says England fans should "expect the unexpected" during their visit to Estadio Azteca.

England

England manager Thomas Tuchel, asked whether he has seen enough from his players to show they can handle a potentially hostile environment at Azteca:

"It will be emotional, full of support for the home nation. I didn't expect any hostility so far. Everyone was very respectful. Everyone was cheering for our players in front of the hotel. I don't expect that tomorrow but I don't expect per se a hostile environment.

"At a stadium like this - like not a lot of stadiums - can create an advantage to the home team, that a stadium can create momentum and belief in the home team. This is something we come up against and we expect it.

"But we have very experienced players in the toughest leagues in the biggest clubs in the world. We all know these games from Champions League matches, from intense matches in our leagues, where you play up against the energy of the stadium. We are prepared for that. We are prepared for the strong start of the Mexican team. I guess they will try to give us a taste of intensity, of the heat, but we will have answers to that.

"We need to find answers, but right now it is a key element of our team that we can find answers to any questions. And I'm full of trust that we will do the same tomorrow."

Image source, Getty Images

England

England midfielder Jordan Henderson on the scale of the occasion:

"I don't think this game compares with any game I've been involved with to be honest.

"Yes, I've played in high level big games in Champions League but in a World Cup in Mexico against Mexico? I don't think anything compares with that. That's why it's such a big game and such a special game to be involved in.

"I think everybody's just excited and really looking forward to taking on the challenge."