Altitude expert breaks down why England might struggle against Mexico
England is about to face Mexico in the World Cup round of 16. To win, they’ll need to beat their opponents not only on their home ground but also deal with the challenge of playing at high altitude.
Mexico, led by Javier Aguirre, have been strong in this tournament. They’ve won all their games so far, finishing top of their group before knocking out Ecuador in the round of 32.
The Three Lions know this won’t be easy. They have to play at the Azteca Stadium, where Mexico has only lost twice since it opened in 1966.
One big challenge is the altitude. Mexico’s stadium is high up, and this affects how players perform. Thomas Tuchel mentioned how hard it is for teams to get used to the altitude in such a short time. An expert told Sky News that players might struggle because their muscles get less oxygen—about 10 to 15% less. This means they might not be able to sprint as much or keep up their energy in the second half.
Besides the altitude, the weather is also causing some worry before the match. There was talk about changing the kick-off time by six hours, but right now, it’s still set for 1 am British Standard Time. However, the game might get delayed because of the weather, and several different start times are being considered.