Two massive fan bases and a cathedral: Mexico-England can become a World Cup tradition

In the history of the Men’s World Cup, in every tournament there is always at least one match that you come back to in order to capture the essence of that particular edition. It’s a match ingrained in your psyche because it delivered everything you expected, not only from a footballing point of view, but also culturally. It is a clash between two nations coming together and putting on a majestic spectacle of football. In the end, you will always remember the host country because they played the role of narrator of one of the best matches you have ever seen. I can think of a few. The 2022 final in Qatar for example, between Argentina and France. Or Brazil’s 3-2 victory over the Netherlands in the 1994 quarterfinals or the semifinal between Italy and West Germany in the 1970 World Cup, which was the first time Mexico hosted the tournament. Again and again, we return to these matches because they become important memories that reinforce the idea that this is indeed the greatest sport and the greatest tournament and that nothing comes close. I think England’s game against Mexico in Mexico City will be one of them. The prelude to the match has already given us drama. The discussion on the effects of the city’s altitude. The choice of hotel for the England team to minimize potential disruption. Reports on how weather could disrupt or change kickoff time. These teams have something in common (aside from the penchant for serving beans for breakfast). Both are among the most followed teams in the world, but whose rich history in the sport has not really measured that reach. But the similarity might end there, because this match – among all those so far – will be the biggest spectacle of this World Cup. And there are so many reasons for this. Let’s start with the host. Mexico, led by Javier “Vasco” Aguirre, was a revelation and one of the best teams in the tournament. So far he has won every game without conceding a single goal and with players like Julián Quiñones (three goals, one assist) and a determined Raúl Jiménez (two goals), El Tri can hurt anyone at any time. However, this is a team that fully represents the concept of unity. It’s brave, consistent and extremely difficult to break. The other element is the stadium itself, as it brings joy and a sense of energetic momentum for the host and ghosts of the past for the visitor. I’ll come back to that in a moment. But first, think about this. In 10 World Cup matches, Mexico has never lost on this iconic pitch and has suffered only two defeats in international competition in 89 matches. The crowd is the most intense of any we will see at this World Cup. The experience of players who have already faced this problem often tells me that it is the equivalent of being lost in a sea of ​​noise, where the chants, shouts and roars are so loud that not only can you not communicate with your teammates. You can’t even hear yourself think. Every time England have the ball they will need to concentrate fully as the boos and whistles will be overwhelming. There are literally vibrations inside the stadium from the stomping and as the fans chant “Cielito Lindo” and “Olé, Olé, Olé”, all you can feel is an overwhelming sense of dominance from one collective voice. I know England very well. It’s part of my heart. I was born there accidentally to my Peruvian parents (a story for another day) and grew up there after leaving Peru in the early 90s. My youth is due to England. I have many English family members and relatives and I still go back year after year. I cover the Premier League and am very familiar with English football culture. I can tell any England fan that this will be the most hostile and noisy atmosphere the Three Lions have ever faced and my hope for Thomas Tuchel is that most of this preparation is psychological and not physical. There is also the memory of the past, because this is where one of the most controversial moments in World Cup history took place: Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” ensured Argentina’s victory over England in the quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. England have not returned to Mexico since then. Until now. Altitude remains the most talked about factor and rightly so. At approximately 7,220 to 7,352 feet above sea level, the need for oxygen becomes more urgent as it decreases by 20% per breath. So, for athletes, running and finding energy is more difficult. Do you remember that I am Peruvian? Growing up, I went to Cusco (the Inca capital and where my father was born) every year and it’s at 11,152 feet, which is significantly higher, but the point remains. It’s the same reason Bolivia plays its World Cup qualifiers in El Alto (13,615 feet), because it’s a huge advantage. Today Mexico is much lower, but the effects will be there, so England’s strategy must be developed based on altitude. There is no room for maybe or not. It has to be. Tuchel’s priority must be to keep the ball and not chase it, otherwise it could become an even bigger mountain to climb. This is also where hydration breaks are essential. England’s quest to win the World Cup for the first time since 1966 now reaches the ultimate challenge: beating a confident, strong and assured Mexico at home. In front of their people. With the sky against them. Mexico’s quest is to continue on this historic path and achieve something that has not been done since 1986 and 1970, that is, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup. The location is fixed. A wonderful city is ready to create a huge atmosphere. All that remains is for Sunday evening to arrive and the gods of nature to leave us alone with their storm warnings. We won’t need it. Because the real storm will occur inside the stadium, created by 80,000 people. And the potential legends who will set foot on the grounds of one of the game’s cathedrals.