England coach Thomas Tuchel says his team cannot fully adjust to the altitude of Mexico City before facing Mexico in the World Cup round of 16 at Azteca Stadium.
The match will be played at a venue more than 7,300 feet, or 2,200 meters, above sea level. England is due to travel from its Kansas City base to Mexico on Friday, leaving little time to adapt before playing the co-host.
“My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have,” Tuchel said. “It just takes too much time.”
Elite athletes generally need an extended acclimation period to reduce the fatigue caused by lower atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen availability. Sports scientists often point to at least two weeks of adjustment, or the alternative of arriving as close to game time as possible before acute symptoms set in.
England prepared for the tournament with an early arrival in the United States and a training camp in Florida designed around high temperatures. Tuchel accepts that altitude is a different problem, but he believes hydration breaks could still offer a practical in-game tool.
He used those breaks during England’s round of 32 match against Congo, when his team recovered from an early concession to win 2-1. “I make the most of it,” Tuchel said. “You know that I don’t really love them, I enjoy football more when it plays out with momentum... but of course they are here and why would I not try to take advantage?”
Azteca Stadium also carries a heavy place in England’s World Cup history. Argentina beat England there in the 1986 quarterfinals, a match remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and his later run from the halfway line past several England players before beating Peter Shilton.
Mexico has not lost in 10 World Cup matches at its home stadium across three tournaments. Tuchel framed England’s return to the venue 40 years later in direct terms: “We will get it back. It’s karma,” he said. “Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around.”