England face co-hosts Mexico on Monday at 1am (UK time) in the last-16 of the 2026 World Cup, with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are still searching for top form despite topping their group with seven points from three matches. England then needed a dramatic late comeback to avoid a shock exit in the round of 32, with Harry Kane scoring twice in the closing stages to overturn a deficit against DR Congo and book their place in the knockout rounds.
Mexico, meanwhile, have enjoyed a dream tournament on home soil. A perfect group-stage campaign allowed them to stay in familiar surroundings for the last 32, where they comfortably defeated Ecuador 2-0 at the Azteca thanks to goals from Julian Quinones and Raul Jimenez. El Tri are now aiming to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they hosted the tournament.
The sides have met nine times previously, with England winning six and losing just once. However, this will be their first encounter since 2010 and their first World Cup meeting since England’s 2-0 victory in the group stage at the 1966 finals.
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Mexico vs England team news
England team news
Reece James has trained alone so far in Mexico City, meaning Tuchel won’t want to risk starting the Chelsea defender at right-back so soon. Jarell Quansah also missed the DR Congo game, but has returned to training, so he could be an option.
While Declan Rice performed well in his 12 minutes at right-back, he won’t start there. And Djed Spence came under a lot of fire. John Stones could come in at centre-back, with Ezri Konsa moving over to the right. Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly will complete the defence, with Jordan Pickford still the undisputed No.1. Rice and Elliot Anderson should continue in midfield.
Bukayo Saka may get his second start of the World Cup, as Tuchel still continues to manage his minutes. He was a bright start having come off the bench, replacing Noni Madueke. Anthony Gordon could also start on the left, after his positive impact with two assists. Jude Bellingham should continue in the No.10, with Harry Kane leading the line.
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Mexico team news
Javier Aguirre looks to have decided on a settled starting lineup for Mexico, after some experiments. The main changes have been in the midfield, with a few different trios used. After missing the first game, Luis Romo has started in midfield across the past three matches. And he’s likely to keep his spot here. Gilberto Mora has also started the past two matches having impressed as the tournament’s youngest player. Mora could keep his spot, with Erik Lira in the holding role.
Mexico’s defence has pretty much stayed the same. Jorge Sanchez has made the right-back spot his own, replacing Israel Reyes, with Jesus Gallardo on the left. The latter has only failed to start one game, when top spot and group stage qualification was already secured. Cesar Montes and Johan Vasquez should be the starting centre-back pairing, with Raul Rangel in goal.
Aguirre clearly has a favoured front line too. Roberto Alvarado, Raul Jimenez and Julian Quinones have started three of Mexico’s four games at the World Cup this summer. The only exception was their final group game. They will continue here, with Quinones and Jimenez both scoring in the win over Ecuador.
Mexico vs England predicted lineups
Mexico (4-3-3): Rangel; Sanchez, Montes, Vasquez, Gallardo; Romo, Lira, Mora; Alvarado, Jimenez, Quinones.
England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Konsa, Guehi, Stones, O’Reilly; Anderson, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Kane.
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