Declan Rice: It doesn't matter where we play

Declan Rice has affirmed England’s readiness to handle all the challenges posed by Mexico in their Round of 16 clash at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled for early Monday at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

Manager Thomas Tuchel’s men expect to face multiple obstacles, from the passionate fan atmosphere to playing at high altitude, as they continue their quest for historic glory.

England faced additional uncertainty before traveling to Mexico City due to FIFA’s consideration of moving the match to avoid potential weather disruptions, but the decision was ultimately made to keep the game at its original time of 6:00 p.m. local time.

Rice said, “The match will feel like an away game for us. They’ve played all their games in Mexico so far and have had the home advantage throughout the tournament, so we need to go there and deal with whatever comes our way.”

Mexico boasts a formidable record at the Azteca Stadium, having lost only two of their 89 official matches there. It is also the venue where England last played, suffering a defeat to Argentina, led by the late legend Diego Maradona, in the 1986 World Cup.

Rice added, “For us, it doesn’t matter where we play; it’s just a football pitch. It’s true that the Azteca is known for iconic moments, such as Maradona’s famous handball goal, but we’re going there to focus on our task.”

In related developments, Rice reassured his coach Tuchel of his physical readiness for the match despite suffering from hamstring pain since late December, confirming his ability to play and support a team missing key defensive players Reece James and Jarrod Bowen.