England pauses trip to Mexico City over spying worries, but fans remain unsure
England’s build-up to their World Cup round-of-16 match against Mexico has caught a lot of attention after it was revealed they’ll be delaying their trip to Mexico City because of spying worries.
After their 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday, coach Thomas Tuchel and the England team headed back to their base in Kansas City. Instead of flying straight from Atlanta to Mexico, they chose to stay longer in the US for a few reasons—one being to keep their training sessions private and stop Mexico from spying.
According to the Mail, Tuchel is determined that no plans will be leaked before the game. Key things like team tactics will stay secure at their main training base. Their sessions in Kansas are closely guarded by police and security, and the team thinks traveling early to Mexico might make spying easier.
However, this choice means less time for England to get used to Mexico City’s high altitude, something fans have noticed. One fan said, “They better not delay too long. The air in Mexico is thinner and you need time to get used to it before playing.” Another asked, “What about the 2,200 meters above sea level? Will they need time to adjust?” A third added, “Forget about formation, we have none! I’m more worried about the altitude.”
The Estadio Azteca, where the match will be played, is over 7,000 feet above sea level—higher than the UK’s tallest mountain, Ben Nevis. Tuchel, however, feels it’s “impossible” to fully adjust to the altitude in a few days. “Playing Mexico at the Azteca comes with many challenges,” he said. “The altitude is a big disadvantage we can’t prepare for in just four days. And there might be even more obstacles.”
Mexico’s fans have been a strong force at this World Cup, often feeling like a 12th player. They’ve even disturbed opposing teams before games—for example, the Ecuadorian Football Federation complained when fans outside their hotel kept their players awake.
Now, Mexican fans are ready to bring their usual loud energy against England. The Mirror reports they plan to bring speakers, cars, music, motorbikes, and horns to create a noisy atmosphere outside England’s hotel. Local police will be there, but controlling the noisy crowd might be tough.