FIFA World Cup 2026, Rd of 16
Azteca Stadium
Mexico City, Mexico
5 Jul 26
There was no official programme for FIFA WC 26 but the FA did produce a matchday poster for each game played by the free lions, available on England@England on X
Official FIFA WC Host City Poster
ESTC applications for England's Round of 16 game at the Azteca in Mexico City against Mexico were oversubscribed by 1373. There were 4373 applicants for 3000 tickets in the following categories: 750 x Cat 1, 750 x Cat 2, 1050 x Cat 3 and 450 at Cat 4. Luckily I qualified for the lowest category of ticket (Supporter entry/Cat 4) which was $60 (£45). In all it was outrageous ticket pricing from FIFA
The Estadio Azteca (Estadio Ciudad de Mexico) opened in 1966 and is located to the south of Mexico City, reachable on the blue line to Tasquena, then change for the light railway to the Azteca. The stadium has a capacity of 87,523 and is home to the Club America in Liga MX. It is the largest stadium in Latin America and had the honour of hosting 5 WC games, including the opening game against South Africa:
11 Jun 26: Mexico 2 v South Africa 0 (Group A)
17 Jun 26: Colombia 3 Uzbekistan 1 (Group K)
24 Jun 26: Mexico 3 v Czechia 0 (Group A)
30 Jun 26: Mexico 2 v Ecuador 0 (Rd of 32)
05 Jul 26: Mexico 2 England 3 (Rd of 16)
Attendance: 80,824
Only one man for this front cover
After arriving in Mexico City on my Delta flight from Atlanta (via Miami) I took a local taxi from the airport to my hotel in the heart of the city in Zona Rosa
I quickly became acquainted with Tecate
Day 1 - The Historic Centre
The Mexico City Metropolitan Cathedral is the largest and oldest cathedral in Latin America, built between 1573-1813. This is the Altar of the Kings
The "Soccer Baby Jesus" is a cultural phenomenon which started in 1970 when Mexico first hosted the World Cup. The statue is in the Altar of the Kings and Baby Jesus' kit is changed to match the exact kit El Tri wears for their matches.
Outside the main doors of the Cathedral
Templo Mayor was the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan constructed in 1325
The Spanish arrived in 1519 and after the conquest of the Aztec Empire, most of the temple had ben destroyed by 1521
The Aztec pyramid began construction in 1325, 250 years later the Spanish broke ground to build their own cathedral in Tenochtitlan, which became part of New Spain
The oldest cathedral in Latin America rising above the Aztec ruins of an earlier dynasty, where stones from the ruins were used in its construction in 1575
The wall of skulls discovered in 2015
The excavations began because of the discovery of the 'Coyolxauhqui Stone' showing the dismemberment of the daughter of the goddess Coatlicue
The Wall of Skulls 💀
The 'Tlaltecuhtli monolith' is the largest Aztec sculpture ever discovered. The earth diety was discovered in 2006 just meters from where it is displayed
Street artists outside the cathedral
I meet with Andy Allen (Blackburn) and head to a local Cafe for some proper Tacos
The chef happens to be an ultra from 'Cruz Azul'. He is from the barrio of Contreras and part of 'La Sangre Azul' ultras
La Santisima Church (1755-1783)
Mexican football shirts are a way of life in CDMX
The Ottoman Clock was gifted to Mexico City in 1910 for accepting many Arabic speaking migrants. In the background is the Latin American Tower which is famous for withstanding the 8.1 magnitude earthquake that hit CDMX in 1985
Tacos trailers are everywhere in CDMX and despite appearances they taste so good
Monument to Cuauhtemoc, the last Aztec ruler of Tenochtitlan (1520-21). He was hanged in captivity by the Spanish in 1525
Cantina Bar in Colonia Centro
Inside Insurgentes roundabout
In the Doghouse with 'the family'
Day 2 - Arena Mexico and the Angel of Independence
Tour de Mexico City
Breakfast in Cerveceria 22, Calle De Puebla
Time for a Modelo
Arena Mexico is also known as the "Cathedral of Lucha Libre Mexicana". It has a capacity of 16500 and is the largest arena built specifically for wrestling
Wrestling murals and fan bars are all around the area
Fight for a life free from violence against women and girls
Lucha Store
The rear of the Arena Mexico
Vamos Mexico
The Angel of Independence
Site of the fatal stampede which killed 4 fans at the Mexico v Ecuador game was believed to have been caused by pyrotechnics which made the crowd panic
The ESTC Fans Embassy is on the other side of the monument and it appears that the site has been taken over by Chihuahuas wearing Mexican shirts
Chihuahua's take over the English Fans Embassy
The Chihuahuas everywhere
Proud mum #1
Proud mum #2
Proud mum #3
You got this Mexico
Meeting Duksey for a small beer in Boomers
Another great photo organised by me, this time in the Beer Garden Roma in Roma Norte
Day 3: Matchday
My hotel taken from the Adams' Family hotel roof bar
Pre - match at La Rosa near the Pino Suarez metro Station
Taking over the La Rosa
Pre-match team photo
6 hours to KO
The fridge is fully stocked
Derby at the La Rosa
On the Blue Line to Tasquena
Tasquena
Lunch at Tasquena
Mexicans were the most friendly fans we encountered
The rain is coming down but this is the stuff that dreams are made of 💥
One of the greatest stadiums in the world
Not a happy bear
Security at the Azteca
'El Sol Rojo - The Red Sun' designed for the 1968 Olympics
Big Kid in a sweet shop
Estadio Ciudad De Mexico - the Azteca
New FB profile picture
Miss Mexico at the Azteca
Monument of the stadium's inauguration on 29 May 1966
On top of the world at an altitude of 2241m
The rake of the stand is almost vertical
After a 1 hour delay the teams are lining up
In position with Lamby and Wigan Steve
GSTK done, let's do this
The Aztec Gods are roaring thunder and lightening
Let battle commence
The scoreboard is just to my left
The West Stand with it's hospitality level in then centre, where the Palcos Club is the the most exclusive
The Asiento Club in the East stand has premium seating and there are also suites in the mid tier
Mexico 2 England 3 with 2 mins of extra time left
The referee blows the whistle - its all over
It is all over Mexico but what a stadium 💓
Me and Charlie head back to La Rosa
Can we jion your fiesta?
Let the Fiesta begin
The Family have arrived
Day 4: Last day and flight to Cancún
I had breakfast opposite the Chapultepec Aqueduct, originally built by the Aztecs in 1400s to bring fresh water from Chapultepec to Tenochtitlan
After watching the Portugal v Spain game in the Jardin, me Colin and Duksey head to the airport to catch our flight to Cancún
