England star hails Azteca after World Cup win over Mexico

Dan Burn left the Estadio Azteca full of respect for Mexico, calling it the best stadium he has played in after England’s 3-2 victory in the World Cup round of 16 on July 5, 2026. The defender said he was struck by the ground, the crowd and the challenge of facing Javier Aguirre’s side in Mexico City.

England needed all of Jude Bellingham’s quality to survive. Bellingham scored twice, Harry Kane added a penalty and Jarell Quansah was sent off, but England still held on after Mexico replied through Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez. The result sent England into the quarter-finals against Norway and ended Mexico’s tournament.

The scale of the test was clear before kick-off. The Azteca sits about 2,240 metres above sea level and more than 80,000 supporters were expected inside a venue that has long been one of the most intimidating in world football. Mexico had already won all three of its World Cup matches at the stadium in this tournament without conceding a goal, reinforcing the sense that England were walking into a fortress.

Thomas Tuchel had warned before the match that the altitude would give Mexico a huge edge and make adaptation difficult. Kane made the same point, saying Mexico had a “ventaja enorme” at the Azteca. The warnings proved accurate enough that England had to withstand pressure, a red card and a partisan crowd before securing one of its most significant away wins.

The victory also added to the stadium’s reputation. The Azteca, which hosted the 1970 and 1986 World Cups, once again produced a night that felt bigger than the scoreboard alone. Mexico lost, but Burn’s response showed how a defeat can still leave a lasting mark when the opponent walks away convinced it faced its toughest challenge yet.