MEXICO CITY — The Mexican capital has turned green. With a population of 9 million, Mexico City is buzzing with energy and excitement as fans count down to one of the most eagerly awaited matches of this World Cup — Mexico taking on England at the legendary Azteca stadium.
Along the city’s main boulevard, Reforma Avenue, authorities have erected barricades and shut down traffic to make way for the hundreds of thousands of fans expected to gather and watch the game on giant outdoor screens.
Near the famous Azteca, history is on everyone’s lips.
“This match means everything,” said Adriana Martinez, 28, dressed in white cowboy boots decorated with ribbons in the green, red, and white of the Mexican flag. “History will be made here today.”
Both nations carry the burden of painful memories into Sunday’s match. England has never forgotten the 1986 World Cup defeat at this very stadium at the hands of Diego Maradona’s cunning brilliance. Mexico, meanwhile, has been haunted by a 40-year curse that has prevented the team from advancing past the World Cup round of 16. Both sides are desperate to finally move on from those ghosts.
“Whoever scores today will be a legend forever,” said 12-year-old Noa, who attended the match alongside his father.
In the narrow streets surrounding the stadium, riot police stood ready — shoes shined and out of view but on standby. A small group of Jehovah’s Witnesses attempted to reach passersby, but the sea of green-shirted fans already had their minds set on a different kind of prayer.
Mexican confidence has grown with each game the national team has played. Increasingly massive crowds have taken to the streets after every victory, with more than a million people celebrating across the capital following Mexico’s win over Ecuador. The rallying cry has become “Y si sí?” — or “What if?” — a phrase capturing the nation’s cautious but growing optimism.
It’s a remarkable shift for a squad that was considered so lacking in star power heading into the tournament that sponsors turned to retired legends for their advertising campaigns.
Axel Villarreal, a 23-year-old supporter from the northern city of Tampico, made the six-hour overnight bus journey to Mexico City, arriving before sunrise on Sunday. He had no ticket but was determined to be part of the moment in the capital.
“We really want to live the experience of having the World Cup here at home,” Villarreal said, speaking near the Angel monument — a traditional gathering spot for Mexicans during significant national moments. “I honestly have the hope they can advance.”
ALTITUDE TAKES CENTER STAGE
Much of the pre-match conversation has focused on the Azteca’s elevation. The stadium sits at more than 2,200 meters above sea level — roughly equivalent to the height of a typical Alpine ski resort — making it one of the highest-altitude venues in international soccer.
Mexico has lost just two competitive matches at the Azteca since it opened in 1966. The Mexican squad has been training in the city for weeks, while England only touched down on Friday.
English supporters took to social media to voice frustration over what they viewed as an unfair altitude advantage, prompting Mexican fans to joke that perhaps the stadium should be lowered into a giant hole to even the playing field.
England’s team was provided extra security at their hotel after Ecuador had previously complained to FIFA about fan noise outside their own accommodations ahead of their round-of-32 match against Mexico. Videos circulating online Sunday showed Mexican fans lighting fireworks and playing drums and trumpets near the area, though they appeared to remain well beyond the security zone around England’s hotel.
Several major brands in Mexico jumped on a lighthearted viral campaign encouraging fans to ditch English words and phrases. Under the banner “No Ingles” — or “No English” — companies playfully banned certain terms. Pizza Hut suggested replacing Worcester sauce — known locally as “salsa inglesa,” or English sauce — with a chili-based condiment. Mitsubishi joked that its mechanics would refuse to use an adjustable wrench, called a “llave inglesa” or English wrench, for the duration of the match.
Across the Atlantic, British bakery chain Greggs announced it had pulled its Mexican-style sandwiches from the menu.
Tim Allen, a 56-year-old England fan from Southend, acknowledged that Mexico’s home advantage could be a deciding factor.
“The big factor is they’ve got 80,000 fans in their home stadium,” he said. “They’re all fanatics.”
“It’s going to be mental,” he added — and by the look on his face, he couldn’t wait.
