England suffers from the Mexican height: "Headache and bad sleep"
The English team is having problems adapting to the height of Mexico, the coaching staff and players are feeling its effects. England coach Thomas Tuchel is already suffering from headaches and sleep problems due to the altitude. For the round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup, which will be played at the Azteca Stadium, Tuchel and the players arrived a day early to try to adapt, although the symptoms persist.
By Pilar Ríos
July 5, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The English team faces serious difficulties in adapting to the heights of Mexico. The coaching staff and players are feeling its effects. England coach Thomas Tuchel is already suffering from headaches and sleep problems due to the altitude. The Azteca Stadium, where the round of 16 match between Mexico and England will be played, is 2,240 meters above sea level. Tuchel gave details of his condition in the pre-match press conference: "Today (Wednesday) I already felt a bit of a headache when I was at the hotel. I haven't slept as well as the previous days, but you can't do much about it. We can't adjust the conditions." In addition, the coach commented that the players also felt the effects of the altitude, especially in the first minutes of yesterday's practice. "They felt a little different, especially in the first few minutes of practice. Then they were able to adjust well. It is what it is, we can't do anything physical about it. We came a day early so as not to experience this for the first time during the game. We expect an aggressive start from Mexico, and if we survive that, I think we will have a good chance." Regarding a possible definition of the match on penalties, Tuchel assured that his team is well prepared for that eventuality. "We know everything about the shooters. Our goalkeepers are well prepared for that if it happens. We know what is going to happen. But they (opposing players) also know everything about us, that's part of modern football. Everything is available for analysis."