Mexico City will host the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between Mexico and England this Sunday (5 July 2026), at an altitude of 2,240 metres above sea level.

The high elevation has sparked concern within the English camp, but head coach Thomas Tuchel has firmly denied any suggestion that his team will use medication to counter the effects of the altitude.

Recent English tabloid reports claimed that the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) might grant special permission for players to use sildenafil citrate — a vasodilator — to help alleviate the impact of playing at such a height in the Mexican capital.

The drug, widely known for treating erectile dysfunction and marketed under the brand name Viagra, was linked to rumours surrounding England’s preparation for the match.

Tuchel laughed off the speculation before providing a brief response: “That information is incorrect, it is not true.”

The German manager also opened up about his own experience adjusting to the challenging conditions in Mexico City. “We feel it even when we’re not training. I had a bit of a headache and didn’t sleep as well as on previous days. But it’s nothing I can’t handle or adapt to. I think the players felt it at the start of training. That’s the reality. We can’t physically adapt completely, but we arrived a day earlier to experience it beforehand rather than during the warm-up. We’ll use the pre-match warm-up to get a sense of the ball’s speed. It’s not surprising if they start very strongly. It’s going to be tough for us in the first 20 or 30 minutes. But I believe we’re well prepared.”

This encounter marks England’s return to the iconic Estadio Azteca, exactly 40 years after their famous 1986 World Cup quarter-final against Argentina — a match forever remembered for Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal and the “Goal of the Century.”

Argentina eliminated England that day and went on to win the tournament.

Tuchel reflected on that historic match, saying: “Everyone remembers that goal. It’s an iconic moment at the Azteca and a huge disappointment for England. It was painful and still hurts, but we’re not here for revenge. It’s not even the same opponent. We’re here in great spirits.”

Mexico and England will kick off at 9 p.m. Brasília time on Sunday. The winner will advance to the quarter-finals to face either Brazil or Norway, who meet earlier in the day.