Mexico coach Javier Aguirre played down the height factor at Estadio Azteca ahead of Sunday’s 2016 World Cup match with England, saying it would come down to «11 versus 11».
The co-host will take on Thomas Tuchel’s team in Mexico City, with much of the pre-match talk focusing on the tough challenge facing the visitors.
The field is 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level. At that altitude, the air is thinner, meaning each breath delivers less oxygen to the body and the ball travels faster and further.
Mexico are not among the favorites to win the World Cup, but they boast a frightening record at the iconic Azteca, having lost just twice in 89 competitive matches.
Aguirre’s men are in top form at the 2026 World Cup, winning all four of their matches so far without conceding a single goal.
But the 67-year-old told reporters on Saturday that his team would have to play an «almost perfect match» to beat England, who are fourth in the FIFA rankings.
“They have big players who play both within and outside the country,” he said. “They are quite physically powerful and they are great players.”
Aguirre downplayed any potential advantage Mexico might have as a result of its experience playing at altitude.
“I really don’t focus on that,” he said. «It’s eleven against eleven. The referee is there to point things out. I really don’t think about things like that because we are eleven Mexican players who have to score in their net, and they are going to try to score in ours.»
The veteran coach, who was in charge of Mexico at a World Cup for the third time in three spells, oversaw a first victory for the country in a World Cup knockout match in 40 years against Ecuador in the last 32 years.
He said he was aware of the growing excitement in the country ahead of the high-profile last-16 clash with England, but his job was to keep his players’ feet on the ground.
«The group knows where we are, and all my players have smartphones and are on fire, so they’re pretty much aware of the euphoria and optimism out there. My duty is that when they get too confident or when they get too ecstatic, I try to ground them.»
Aguirre said he believed his men could reach the quarterfinals, all of which will take place in the United States.
«If I didn’t believe we could indeed beat England, I’d tell you,» he said. «But I firmly believe in the way (we) play. I believe we are on equal footing, and the team that makes fewer mistakes is going to win.»
Published on July 5, 2026
