“It’s a good moment to make peace with the stadium... It will reward us. It’s karma”, England coach Thomas Tuchel said following the which saw them progress to the round of 16 of for a tantalising matchup against Mexico in Mexico City.
The German tactician spoke about the Mexico City Stadium as if it were a living entity, capable of both rewarding and punishing. That one remark is enough to show just how deeply its history has become ingrained in the memories of those who were once merely spectators – or who grew up hearing it from older generations – and who are now writing their own chapters on the world stage.
Before the start of this edition, the last World Cup match played at this iconic stadium was the 1986 final when Argentina’s Diego Maradona reached the pinnacle of the game by setting up Jorge Burruchaga for the winning goal against West Germany. Earlier in that same tournament, England had fallen to the Albiceleste in an unforgettable quarter-final. Those two stories now converge once again, with Tuchel admitting that he believes in "karma".
Even back then, Mexican fans had already mastered the art of intimidating their opponent. They helped popularise the “Mexican wave” on a global scale, an idea that originated in the United States, and their acoustic impact and the rhythm of the crowd made it clear they could move the stadium at will. They also added to the spectacle with chants that became part of popular culture and still live on today, such as “¡Chiquitibum a la bim bom ba!”
Although many of the stadium’s greatest triumphs did not belong to the hosts, the relationship between Mexico’s fans and the venue has evolved over the years into one of complete communion. Following a four-year renovation project that preserved its essence, Mexico City Stadium has welcomed 80,824 spectators in each of Javier Aguirre’s side’s three matches, with minimal presence from visiting supporters, generating a home atmosphere and a sense of pressure even before the first whistle.
“The big difference, without a doubt, is playing in our home ground. It’s our twelfth player. We know that we have the whole country behind us and this motivates us a lot”, said Aguirre, acknowledging the importance of the support from the stands.
Mexico have won all four of their World Cup matches so far, which sparked jubilant celebrations on the pitch. Following the 2-0 victory over Ecuador, photos and videos of the players singing and hugging each other alongside the fans went viral, raising a simple question: did the fans serenade the players, or did the players serenade the fans? The energy of the team is enthusiastically embraced by the crowd, who regularly sing along to national classics such as .
The influence of the atmosphere and stadium has become an important talking point in both countries. Whilst speaking on the BBC, former England internationals such as Joe Hart and Wayne Rooney warned playing on that iconic pitch in front of such passionate supporters would be England’s toughest challenge of the tournament.
Meanwhile, on Fox Sports, Javier Hernandez reflected on the significance of stepping into the Aztec cauldron: “What that legendary stadium represents and the atmosphere you can feel when it’s packed with Mexicans... On top of that, it’s a tricky pitch because of the altitude and the physical toll it takes on the body… of course it makes it harder”.
The audiovisual archive, the accounts from that era and the events themselves have created an aura of mystique surrounding a colossus that has once again opened its doors to the world. Ahead of the round of 16 clash on 5 July – which will be the last match of the tournament on Mexican soil before the competition moves entirely to the United States – tension is running high.
“We’ll be up against the whole country, against the energy of an entire stadium on their home ground”, added Tuchel, referring to some of the challenges they will face against El Tricolor, who have not lost a single World Cup match at home and whose last defeat there came in 2013, against Honduras during the final round of Concacaf qualifiers for Brazil 2014.
“Once you choose it, it never lets you go”, wrote Alvaro Fidalgo on Instagram after his scoring his first Mexico goal against Czechia. It could well refer to the national team, but the statement also applies to the Mexico City Stadium itself. Anyone who sets foot on that pitch is captivated forever.
Sources: FIFA Official
