England face Mexico at the Mexico City Stadium in the early hours of Monday morning in the World Cup last 16, with a place in the quarter-finals against Brazil or Norway at stake at an altitude of 2,200 metres.
Thomas Tuchel’s side needed Harry Kane’s brace in the final quarter of an hour to beat DR Congo 2–1 in the last 32, having trailed from the seventh minute. They arrive at the historic venue knowing Mexico have not lost a World Cup game there in ten attempts.
Javier Aguirre’s side swept through Group A with three wins and three clean sheets, then beat Ecuador 2–0 in the last 32 to end a 40-year drought without a World Cup knockout victory. England have won the last four meetings between these nations. Their only previous World Cup encounter was a 2–0 England victory in the 1966 group stage.
Mexico vs England – Match preview and team news
- Date: Monday, 6 July 2026
- Kick-off: 01:00 BST
- Venue: Mexico City Stadium
- Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)
- Last meeting: England 3–1 Mexico, 24 May 2010, friendly
Team news
Mexico
Aguirre has no injury concerns and selects from a full squad. Gilberto Mora, 17 years old, is expected to retain his starting place after becoming the second-youngest player to start a World Cup knockout match — only Pelé in 1958 was younger.
The Xolos de Tijuana midfielder has been one of the tournament’s most talked-about young performers.
Aguirre must decide whether to persist with Mora or turn to the more experienced Brian Gutiérrez alongside Luis Romo and Érik Lira in midfield.
Julián Quiñones, Roberto Alvarado and Raúl Jiménez continue as the attacking trident, with Raúl Rangel keeping his place in goal after four consecutive clean sheets.
England
Jarell Quansah has returned to full training and is fit to face Mexico. The Bayer Leverkusen defender, who can play at centre-back or right back, suffered a hamstring injury in the draw with Panama and missed the DR Congo game.
His return gives Tuchel more defensive options. Reece James requires a late fitness assessment to determine whether he is available for the bench.
Declan Rice is carrying a hamstring issue but is expected to start — he finished the DR Congo match filling in at right back as defensive options were stretched, and has been passed fit to play his proper midfield role.
Anthony Gordon is expected to start on the left wing after directly contributing to both of Kane’s goals against DR Congo. Noni Madueke starts on the right, with Bukayo Saka managing an Achilles problem.
Form
Mexico
Aguirre’s side have been the tournament’s most complete defensive unit. Three group-stage wins — against South Africa, South Korea and Czechia — without conceding a single goal were followed by the 2–0 defeat of Ecuador in the last 32.
Mexico are one of only two teams at this tournament not to have conceded, alongside Spain. Quiñones scored the first goal of the entire 2026 World Cup and has three goals and one assist across four matches.
Alvarado’s three assists set a new Mexican record for a single World Cup edition. The Azteca factor is real — Mexico have won eight and drawn two of their ten World Cup games at the ground, and their competitive unbeaten run there stretches to 13 years.
England
Tuchel’s side have shown resilience without convincing. The opening 4–2 win over Croatia — Kane scoring twice to become England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer, surpassing Gary Lineker — gave way to a goalless draw against Ghana that set an unwanted possession record. A 2–0 win over Panama restored some momentum.
The DR Congo match was the most dramatic — England trailed from the seventh minute, were frustrated by goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi until the 75th minute, and needed Kane’s brace in the final quarter-hour to go through.
Kane has scored five goals in four matches, taking his total at World Cups to 13 and moving ahead of Pelé in the all-time rankings. England have conceded in two of their four matches. At altitude in Mexico City, their defensive structure will be tested as severely as at any point in this tournament.
Predicted lineups
Mexico predicted XI (4-3-3): Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Romo, Lira, Mora; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones
England predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Quansah, Konsa, Guehi, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Madueke, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
How to watch Mexico vs England?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on BBC One, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.
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