England are reportedly set to delay their arrival in Mexico City due to concerns over potential espionage before their FIFA World Cup Round of 16 encounter against Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium this weekend.
The Three Lions will face the co-hosts on Sunday, with the match kicking off at 1 am BST on Monday morning, as they aim to secure a berth in the quarterfinals.
Thomas Tuchel’s men face a challenging assignment against a Mexican side that has yet to concede a goal in the tournament. The hosts also benefit from playing at high altitude — 2,240 metres above sea level — making the contest even more difficult for England.
England are scheduled to fly into Mexico City on Friday and will spend two nights there before the crucial encounter. The timing of their arrival has been carefully planned to help the squad acclimatise while also reducing the risk of altitude sickness.
However, according to widespread reports cited by Metro, the English camp feared that spies could target their training sessions in order to gather tactical information regarding formations and team selection.
As a result, England’s key training sessions are now expected to take place at their tournament base in Kansas City. The venue has been secured with screened-off training grounds and strict security provided by local police forces.
Concerns about spying in football resurfaced late in the 2025/26 season when Southampton were expelled from the Championship play-off final after admitting to monitoring Middlesbrough’s training sessions ahead of their semi-final tie.
Similarly, Leeds United were fined £200,000 by the English Football League in 2019 after being found guilty of observing opponents’ training sessions during Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure.
England’s worries extend beyond espionage. The team also fear that details of their hotel location could be leaked, potentially leading to disturbances from Mexico fans before the high-stakes match.
A similar situation troubled Ecuador earlier this week when they faced Mexico in the Round of 32. According to reports, Ecuadorian players were prevented from getting adequate rest as local supporters gathered outside their Mexico City hotel on the eve of the match.
From midnight until the early hours of game day, groups of fans assembled outside the Westin Hotel — where Ecuador’s squad was staying — blaring car horns, revving motorcycles, and using loudspeakers to disrupt the visiting team’s sleep.
Following the incident, the Ecuadorian Football Federation (FEF) lodged a formal complaint with FIFA, stating: “Such conduct stands in stark contrast to the principles of fair play, equity, and unity that a World Cup should embody.”
The FEF further urged the authorities “to pay greater attention to these events and to adopt necessary measures to ensure the safety of our players, coaching staff, and supporters.”
To mitigate similar risks, England’s team hotel in Mexico City is expected to have roadblocks and security cordons around its perimeter to prevent any pre-match disturbances.
