World Cup: How England v Mexico will be affected by altitude at Azteca Stadium

Reached the last sixteen of the World Cup beat DR Congo 2-1, One of the biggest dangers England face in their next match against Mexico is one they cannot control – the altitude.

The Three Lions will play at Mexico City’s iconic Estadio Azteca, 7,220 feet above sea level.

England will play their first game at this stadium Controversial quarter-final defeat to Argentina in 1986 World Cup.

At that altitude, Earth’s barometric pressure is lower, which makes the air thinner and less oxygen taken into the bloodstream with each breath.

Even in professional footballers, this has a potentially significant effect – increased heart rate, shortness of breath, dehydration, faster and more intense fatigue.

By contrast, the highest altitude stadium in professional English football is West Bromwich Albion’s The Hawthorns, which is 14 times closer to sea level than the Azteca at 551 feet.

Opponents Mexico have played all their matches at home so far, and the squad is clearly used to dealing with the conditions – they have played 14 matches at the Azteca so far in the 2020s, scoring 23 goals and conceding just four.

Their competitive record at Azteca is 70 wins, 17 draws and only two defeats in 89 games. They are undefeated in 10 World Cup matches there.

“As an opponent, you know when you go there, you’re going to suffer,” said Pavel Pardo, a former Mexico captain who also calls Azteca home when he plays for domestic team Club America.

So, what does height look like for players off the field, how big of a difference can it make, and are there any strategies to deal with it?