England facing additional Mexico problem as ex-Club America star issues warning

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Altitude is not the only problem for England at the Estadio Azteca - pollution will be, too. A notorious smog plus a strong stench of diesel fill the

Mexico

City air.

The latest air quality reading provided by the Directorate of Atmospheric Monitoring in Coyoacan, the borough where the Azteca is located, described recent levels as "good" just a matter of weeks ago. It was progress because in the opening 48 days of 2026, CDMX had only three days of "acceptable" air quality.

Former

Colombia

international Franky Oviedo spent four years playing for Club America and admits both the altitude - the Azteca is 2240 metres above sea level - and pollution will be tough to combat.

He told ESPN during the World Cup group phase: "It's going to be tough, it's going to be difficult because the altitude really affects you. It affects you because it's hard to breathe, your legs feel much heavier.

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"In Mexico City, besides the altitude, there is the added problem of pollution. "The pollution, combined with the lack of air, is awful, it suffocates you. At altitude, the ball travels faster, it slows down less because the air is thinner.

"So the ball comes and you think it's coming at a certain speed because of habit, and before you know it, it's right on top of you. Or you go to stop it and it bounces off.

"The mind thinks one thing, but the body reacts more slowly due to the lack of oxygen, and the ball travels faster. That's a lethal combination. That's why the pass changes, the touch changes, and mid-range shots - the ball doesn't follow the normal parabola, but goes straight and travels incredibly fast."

Juan Angel Hernandez, a sports medicine doctor at UNAM, the largest and most prominent public research university in Mexico, has warned England must be prepared for a significant drop in performance levels. He explained: "It is known that a soccer player can run between four and six miles per game.

"However, when the altitude is greater than 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) above sea level, a player's performance can decrease by up to 3.1 per cent. At this altitude the amount of oxygen in the air is estimated to be 30 per cent lower, which will have a direct impact on aerobic performance, that is, when running and exercising for a prolonged time."

Recovery post-match can also be slower due to a lack of energy resources. In the past, sporting teams have utilised nutrition to combat this while some athletes have also been known to use iron supplements to bolster red blood cell production and improve their capacity to transport oxygen.