Mexico now knows its opponent in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. It will be England, a team that will return to the field at Estadio Ciudad de México for the first time in four decades, following one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history.
The match will take place on Sunday, July 5, and will mark England’s first game on Mexican soil during this World Cup, after having played the entire group stage and the round of 16 in the United States.
England’s campaign began with a 4-2 victory over Croatia in Dallas. They then drew 0-0 with Ghana in Boston and closed out the group stage with a 2-0 win over Panama in New York to finish atop Group L. In the round of 16, they had to work hard to eliminate DR Congo, a result that earned them a spot to face the Tricolor.
It will be a historic matchup. England will return to the Estadio Azteca, the venue where it played its knockout matches at Mexico ’86. In that World Cup, England defeated Paraguay 3-0 in the round of 16 before starring in one of the most iconic matches in world soccer.
In the quarterfinals of that tournament, Argentina eliminated England 2-1 thanks to Diego Armando Maradona’s unforgettable brace, a match marked by the “Hand of God” and the so-called “Cosmic Kite.” Now, 40 years later, the English will return to the same venue to try to write a different chapter in history.
For Mexico, the match will also hold special significance, as it will be the last World Cup match hosted by the Mexico City Stadium during the 2026 World Cup. Additionally, the winner of this series will advance to the quarterfinals, where they will face the winner of the match between Brazil and Norway.
The Mexican national team is riding high after its performance against Ecuador, a match that also drew international praise. Former French soccer player Thierry Henry highlighted the strong start by the team coached by Javier Aguirre and said that the first 30 minutes were exactly how a match of this magnitude should be approached.
Thierry Henry highlighted the offensive play of Raúl Jiménez and Julián Quiñones, but paid special attention to Gilberto Mora, praising his ability to control the pace of the game from midfield and make mature decisions despite his youth.
The Frenchman also highlighted the atmosphere created by Mexican fans when the team plays at home and the connection between the team and the stands, noting that this combination makes the Tricolor a formidable opponent for any team visiting the Estadio Ciudad de México.
