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England brings earplugs, remedies for Azteca altitude showdown

7/3/2026

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Summary

Story summary

England will provide earplugs, white-noise machines and natural sleep remedies to offset noisy fans and the 2,200-metre altitude at the Estadio Azteca.
Coach Thomas Tuchel said the squad cannot adapt to the altitude in three days, giving Mexico a huge advantage.
England meet Mexico in the round-of-16 on Sunday at 7 p.m. Central time at the Estadio Azteca.

History

Historical Context

At the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, Argentina beat England 2-1 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, a match famed for Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal. The stadium, which seats 87,523, later prompted England coach Thomas Tuchel to warn his squad that altitude would again shape tactics against Mexico, underscoring FIFA’s need to factor physiological conditions into fixture planning.

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Story summary

England will provide earplugs, white-noise machines and natural sleep remedies to offset noisy fans and the 2,200-metre altitude at the Estadio Azteca.
Coach Thomas Tuchel said the squad cannot adapt to the altitude in three days, giving Mexico a huge advantage.
England meet Mexico in the round-of-16 on Sunday at 7 p.m. Central time at the Estadio Azteca.

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