Mexico vs England Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Round of 16
In Mexico City, Mexico have suffered just two defeats in 89 matches and now they have the chance to reach the quarter-finals of a FIFA World Cup for the second time ever as they take on England in their capital city.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
Mexico preview: A brilliant campaign so far
In his third stint in charge, Javier Aguirre has overcome criticism in the last year or so, and even at this tournament, to lead Mexico into the Round of 16 and through a knockout match at a FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1986 and for just the second time ever.
After a 100% record in the group stage without conceding a goal, the Mexicans then put in an excellent performance to defeat Ecuador by two goals to nil in Mexico City, with star attackers Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez scoring first-half goals.
England preview: Grinding through
England head to the altitude of Mexico City on the back of a dramatic, hard-fought victory against Congo DR in Atlanta, with Brian Cipenga having given the Congolese an early lead. England laboured at times but did create quite a lot of clear-cut chances before captain Harry Kane scored a late brace, with the winning goal being a stunner, to send the Three Lions through.
England laboured in the group stages, too. After an enterprising and encouraging second half performance in a 4-2 defeat of Croatia, Thomas Tuchel’s side then shared a goalless draw with a conservative Ghana side before enjoying an unconvincing 2-0 victory against Panama.
Mexico team news: Changing things
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences…
Throughout the tournament, Javier Aguirre has changed things around and that was the case against Ecuador, too, with the likes of Edson Alvarez and Alvaro Fidalgo surprisingly not used at all, with Israel Reyes, Brian Gutierrez and Santiago Gimenez only coming off the bench.
What is clear is that Aguirre has perhaps now settled on a back four and a front three with debates still around the midfield. It could well be that the former Real Mallorca boss goes with a slightly more conservative line-up with 17-year-old Gilberto Mora potentially dropping out for the Round of 16.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Fidalgo, Lira, Romo; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones
Unavailable:
Questionable:
England team news: A few problems to solve
In terms of injuries, Thomas Tuchel has said that Reece James may be able to return to the bench here but Jarell Quansah is now fully fit and available. It wouldn't, though, be a huge surprise to see Ezri Konsa pushed to right-back to combat Julian Quinones, with John Stones partnering Marc Guehi.
In terms of the performance level, James’ involvement would be imperative with underwhelming performances from Djed Spence. Both Noni Madueke and Marcus Rashford struggled, too, and so there could be changes out wide, while Declan Rice was again forced off with slight fitness concerns late on against the Congolese.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Konsa, Stones, Guehi, O’Reilly; Rice, Anderson; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane
Unavailable:
Questionable: James (Injured)
Mexico’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Raul Rangel ($3.9m) – Goalkeeper
Raul Jimenez ($7.0m) – Forward
Julian Quinones ($5.6m) – Forward
Matchday 5 captain pick: Julian Quinones
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Raul Jimenez
Free kicks: Luis Chavez
Corners: Luis Chavez
England’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Jordan Pickford ($4.8m) – Goalkeeper
Jude Bellingham ($8.3m) – Midfielder
Harry Kane ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 5 captain pick: Harry Kane
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Harry Kane
Free kicks: Declan Rice
Corners: Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka
Key stats
- The only World Cup match between these sides was in the 1966 group stage with England winning the encounter 2-0 on home turf at Wembley Stadium.
- Across ten meetings, England hold a 7–2 advantage over Mexico, with one draw. Mexico are unbeaten in their three clashes in Mexico City, earning two wins and a draw — most recently a 1–0 victory in a June 1985 friendly in which current Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre played the full 90 minutes.
- Mexico are aiming to equal their best‑ever FIFA World Cup performance by reaching the quarter‑finals — a stage they have previously achieved only twice, in 1970 and 1986, both times as hosts.
- Mexico are yet to concede a single goal at FIFA World Cup 2026.
- Mexico could become only the second team to start a World Cup campaign with five successive wins and no goals conceded after Italy achieved the feat in 1990.
- Mexico have come out on top in seven and drawn two of their last nine FIFA World Cup outings on home soil (matches settled by a penalty shoot-out are counted as draws). The North Americans have kept clean sheets in the last seven of those fixtures.
- El Tri have not conceded a first-half goal in any of their last 15 FIFA World Cup matches.
- England have lost only one of their last nine World Cup matches (W6 D2).
- England have won six of their last eight World Cup round of 16 ties.
- Harry Kane has now netted 13 goals in 15 appearances at the World Cup, with seven of those strikes coming in his last six outings.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
Mexico vs England prediction
This is the third time that Mexico have hosted a FIFA World Cup and at each of the other two they reached the quarter-finals; doing so by simply getting out of the group stage in 1970 and then by winning a Round of 16 tie in 1986.
England have not played well at this tournament. There was a 20-minute spell against Croatia in their opener that suggested they could play with an intensity that would be the envy of most, if not all, of the other teams at this tournament, but that has not yet been replicated and now they head to the physically demanding Mexico City.
History and conditions are against England, as well as the hostility of the home crowd, and it will be a tough game that should see the Mexicans trouble a shaky English back-line. Balancing that, though, England possess some world class attackers and themselves will fancy being the first team to score against the Mexicans this summer.
Mexico vs England betting tip: Both teams to score
