England returns to Estadio Azteca 40 years after humiliating defeat to Maradona's Argentina

England returns to the Estadio Azteca for the 2026 World Cup, a stadium etched in their history for a "humiliating defeat" in 1986. That quarterfinal match saw Diego Maradona score a legendary double, propelling Argentina to a semifinal berth against Belgium. Forty years later, "The Three Lions" face a different challenge in Mexico City.

Their mission is to overcome Javier Aguirre's undefeated Mexican team and secure a spot in the quarterfinals. The match will be played at an altitude of 2,240 meters above sea level, within a stadium holding over 80,000 spectators, promising a hostile atmosphere. Mexico has not conceded a goal so far in the tournament.

This game represents a significant shift for the English squad, as it will be their first match played outside the United States in this World Cup. Their previous games were held in Dallas, Boston, New Jersey, and Miami. England also enters this fixture undefeated, though with one draw to their name.