England are preparing for their crucial World Cup 2026 meeting with Mexico and have been given extra security while in Mexico City following disruptive fan behaviour earlier in the tournament.
Thomas Tuchel’s side were met by member’s of the Mexican National Guard at their hotel after fans had disrupted the Ecuadoran squad with loudspeakers, horns and motorbikes earlier in the campaign. But Tuchel admitted England had faced ‘no issues’ and their arrival in Mexico has been ‘respectful and emotional’.
The Three Lions have also had to deal with the fallout over the uncertainty surrounding the kick-off time for this last-16 tie. Fifa were considering moving the match forward by six hours due to potential stormy weather but backtracked on those plans.
The Mexico clash will provide a unique challenge with altitude and an anticipated hostile reception providing added factors for the England squad as they prepare for the Estadio Azteca – scene of Diego Maradona’s contrasting double in 1986. Declan Rice has been declared fully fit in a significant injury boost, though Tuchel mus solve the problem of right-back.
Follow all the build-up to Sunday’s exciting tie with co-hosts Mexico:
HAVE YOUR SAY! Who should start at right-back against Mexico?
Well, we know it probably won’t be Djed Spence now…
England enter the Azteca cathedral – football’s greatest stadium
The old structure of the grand stadium had the dressing rooms underground, so teams had to come and continue up a flight of stairs.
Right-back injury crisis worsens
Thomas Tuchel’s injury crisis at right-back has worsened yet again with it emerging that Djed Spence is unlikely to start tonight due to a fresh proble.
Spence filled in at right-back against DR Congo but is likely to be kept out of the line-up according to Sky.
Declan Rice may operate in the position ahead of Jarell Quansah, who himself have just returned from injury. Reece James may make the matchday squad but similarly won’t start.
WATCH: Starmer and Downing Street staff kick ball around No 10 in England good luck video
Trump’s first real interference?
There’s more on this Folarin Balogun story.
Donald Trump has just posted on Truth Social: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
We know how cushty he is with Gianni Infantino – and like with the decision to “suspend” the latter two matches of Cristiano Ronaldo’s three match ban from World Cup qualifying, this all feels a bit dodgy.
Has Trump interfered to get Balogun’s suspension overturned?
BREAKING: Folarin Balogun red card extraordinarily wiped by Fifa in huge World Cup boost for USA
Big news emerging from the USA camp ahead of their own last-16 tie tomorrow.
In an extraordinary development and a huge boost for the co-hosts, United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino will have his star striker available for the World Cup last-16 tie in Seattle after Fifa decided to “suspend” Balogun’s ban.
However, Article 27 of Fifa’s disciplinary code states: “The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure.”
Mexico fans fail in attempt to disturb England players
Mexico fans went all out to disturb England outside their hotel during the early hours of the morning.
But according to BBC Sport, the England camp have indicated that their efforts had minimal impact on their players.
There was a high security presence outside the hotel, with anyone attemotung to get close being moved away.
Shearer: Kane is the best England striker ever
From one elite England striker to another, Alan Shearer has branded Harry Kane the best the country has ever seen?
“I would say Harry Kane is England’s best ever striker,” Shearer told Betfair.
“You have to say that. I know the arguments will be Bobby Charlton and all of that, and I totally get it and understand that. But yeah, Harry’s goals record and the standard that he’s set, he’s a proper goal scorer, a proper centre forward and has produced for England in big moments.
“Hopefully, those big moments are not going to be the last ones because I said pre-tournament, if England are going to go far, Harry’s going to have to be in and around the golden boot and he is. Those two goals the other night (against DR Congo) just perfectly summed him up.”
England can survive complication and mayhem in Mexico with one vital change
By the time he finally gets to the Azteca dressing room on Sunday, surrounded by that sense of history, Thomas Tuchel might have to come up with something different for the present moment. Because, over the course of this entertainingly chaotic World Cup, there’s been a message he’s often felt he’s had to repeat to the players.
That is basically that, if they are just “the best version of ourselves”, they’ll be fine.
He notes: “We don’t need anything extra in these stages, but just trust and belief in ourselves.”
In other words, if everything goes as normal, England are better than most opposition.
Except, for this huge last-16 match against co-hosts Mexico, almost nothing is normal.
