Tuchel praises respectful treatment of Mexican fans before the

Coach Thomas Tuchel, who leads the English team, made a point of highlighting the warm reception from Mexican fans ahead of the expected clash between England and Mexico in the round of 16 of the World Cup. In recent statements, Tuchel played down concerns about the team's safety, saying the experience so far has been "better than I expected" and that local fans have been "friendly and respectful". The match takes place this Sunday, at 6pm (local time), at the iconic Azteca Stadium, located in Mexico City. The English team arrived in the country under strict security, after the Ecuador team filed complaints with FIFA about excessive noise from Mexican fans the night before their game. To ensure security, the Mexican National Guard was present at the entrance to the England team's hotel, and police, equipped in riot gear, were also on standby nearby. "We have had no problems so far, and I believe that FIFA took good care of the situation," commented Tuchel, praising the security measures that were implemented. "We have security around the hotel, so we hope to get a good night's sleep. I don't want to talk about problems that don't exist yet. If they arise, we will accept them. The best thing is to stay calm and relax. We have a departure at six in the afternoon, so if we lose a few hours of sleep, we will have time to recover the next morning."  The atmosphere surrounding the World Cup is palpable, and Tuchel didn't hesitate to mention the energy he felt upon arrival. "As soon as we landed, excitement and anticipation were in the air. This will be an important game, in an iconic stadium and at a decisive moment," said the coach. According to him, the atmosphere of the place and the importance of the match can bring out the best performance from the players. Another point of discussion has been the altitude of Mexico City, which is 2,240 meters above sea level, which can impact physical performance. Tuchel revealed that he himself has felt the effects of altitude, such as a headache and slight difficulty sleeping. "The players felt it in the first few minutes of training, but as time went on, they were able to adapt better. That's what we have, and we can't change that. We're here the day before to experience as much as possible. It's normal for Mexico to start their games strong and aggressive, but once we get through the first 20 minutes, we'll be in a good position." Asked about the confusion surrounding the start time of the match, Tuchel said the team was focused and that the change in schedule did not affect performance. "Inside the bubble, everything was calm. The players were not aware of a possible change in the match time. This shows us that it is not worth losing our heads over things we cannot control. We arrived here and the game time remains the same. That is no reason to stress." With all this positive energy and warm reception, the English team hopes to overcome the challenges and advance to the round of 16, in search of their dream of winning the 2026 World Cup.--- ## Related Articles 1. [Virgil van Dijk Reflects on World Cup Exit: 'Accepting Our Failure'](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/virgil-van-dijk-reflects-on-world-cup-exit-accepting-our-failure) 2. [Argentina's Path to World Cup 2026 Semifinals Looks Promising](https://pitchpulsemedia.com/en/news/argentina-s-path-to-world-cup-2026-semifinals-looks-promising)

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does this matter now?

This Thomas Tuchel update affects fans, teams, and the wider season picture — read above for the full breakdown.

What happens next?

Stay tuned for official updates and follow our coverage for the latest developments.