Praying for divine intervention in Mexico's mythical temple: The Estadio Azteca

One of the reasons the games at the FIFA World Cup are enjoyable to watch is the memories. Despite all the blatant corruption, despite all the amateur dramatics, questionable decision making, greenwashing, sportswashing and over inflated egos that FIFA showcases every four years, the tournament resurrects many memories. Some are happy, some are painful. Who were you with, where were you, what were you doing and how did it feel the last time?

The greeks called their games the Olympic agonies (αγώνες). What better word for describing the experience of being a football fan. Agony. Talking of agony, the England National Football Team will face Mexico in Mexico City on 6th July at the magnificent Estadio Azteca. Do you remember the last time your team played the Estadio? The venue has some distinguished history including:

• Brazil 4-1 Italy 1970 final
• Argentina 2-1 England 1986 quarter final
• Argentina 3-2 West Germany 1986 final

The Estadio is the only stadium to have staged two World Cup finals. While it wowed Pele, Diego Maradona and Pope John Paul II it looks like a bit of a graveyard of European football.

While I'm glad England are making progress at the 2026 World Cup, they haven't been convincing, especially in defence. There's plenty of Dad jokes circulating about England's right and left backs being "left-back" (in the UK). England look like needing divine intervention, in their favour this time (see Figure 1), for any chance of beating Mexico on their home turf at high altitude.

So, bring on the agony and if you're supporting England, pray for divine intervention. There will surely be new memories.