England's World Cup campaign faces a significant challenge in Mexico City, where the high altitude of the Azteca Stadium could provide a "huge advantage" to their opponents, according to head coach Thomas Tuchel.
England is set to play Mexico in the World Cup last-16 tie on July 6 at an altitude of approximately 7,200 feet above sea level. The thinner air at this elevation means less oxygen is available with each breath, posing a physical challenge for athletes. "The altitude will be a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it," Tuchel stated.
Tuchel emphasized that the three-day turnaround between matches does not allow sufficient time for the England squad to acclimatize to the conditions. "It just takes too much time. We have only three days in between these matches. It's physically just not possible to adapt to the altitude," he said.
In contrast, the Mexican team has played all four of their World Cup games at high altitudes, including matches at the Azteca Stadium and in Guadalajara (around 5,000 feet above sea level). This prior experience means Mexican players are accustomed to the thinner air, further amplifying their advantage.
Despite the anticipated difficulties, Tuchel indicated that the team is prepared to confront the obstacle. "More obstacles may come, but we are ready for that. This is just something with which we will have to deal. And I think we showed the attitude that we are ready for that," he added.