England face World Cup co-hosts Mexico in the Round of 16 at the Estadio Azteca on Monday, but they will have to overcome playing at 2,240 meters above sea level.
England face Mexico’s Estadio Azteca in World Cup last 16
For England, the problem at Estadio Azteca is not just the altitude, but also the pollution. The infamous smog and strong smell of diesel fills the air in Mexico City.
The latest air quality measurements provided by the Directorate General for Atmospheric Monitoring in Coyoacán, where Azteca is located, rated recent levels as “good” just a few weeks ago. This was progress, as in the first 48 days of 2026, CDMX had only three days of “acceptable” air quality.
Former Colombian international Frankie Oviedo, who played for Club America for four years, admits the Aztecs have difficulty battling the high altitude and pollution at 2,240 meters above sea level.
He told ESPN during the World Cup group stage: “It’s going to be tough because the altitude really affects you. It affects you because it makes it harder to breathe and your legs feel a lot heavier.”
Get the latest 2026 World Cup news in your inbox with our Make Football Great Again newsletter
“In Mexico City, on top of the altitude, we have an additional problem of pollution. The pollution, combined with the lack of air, is so bad that it suffocates us.” At high altitude, the ball moves faster, but because the air is thinner, it doesn’t slow down.
“So, when the ball comes, I think it’s going to come at a certain speed out of habit, and before I know it, it’s right over me. Or, if I try to stop the ball, it bounces back.
“The mind is thinking one thing, but the lack of oxygen slows down the body’s reactions and increases the speed of the ball. This is a deadly combination. That’s why the pass changes, the touch changes, and the mid-range shot is created. The ball does not follow the usual parabola, but travels in a straight line and goes incredibly fast.”
Frankie Oviedo played for Club América at the Azteca Stadium
Juan Angel Hernandez, a sports medicine doctor at UNAM, Mexico’s largest and most famous public research university, warned that England must brace for a significant drop in performance levels. He explained: “Soccer players are known to run 4 to 6 miles per game.
“However, at altitudes above 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) above sea level, an athlete’s performance can decrease by up to 3.1 percent. At this altitude, the amount of oxygen in the air is estimated to decrease by 30 percent, which directly impacts aerobic performance, which means long runs and exercise.”
Post-match recovery may also be delayed due to a lack of energy resources. In the past, sports teams have used nutrition to combat this, and some athletes are also known to use iron supplements to enhance red blood cell production and improve their ability to transport oxygen.
Join our new WhatsApp community and receive Mirror Football content every day. Community members also receive special offers, promotions, and advertisements from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check it out whenever you like. If you are interested, please read our privacy notice.
