England take precautions against noisy Mexico crowd before World Cup tie

England stepped up their preparations for a last-16 tie with Mexico by moving into Mexico City on Friday, with Thomas Tuchel’s squad abandoning their usual routine of arriving the evening before a match. Fifa requires a part-open training session the day before a game, so England will train in Mexico rather than at their base in Kansas City and spend Saturday in the capital.

England have tried to keep their hotel location undisclosed because of concern it could leak on social media, while players and staff who did not bring their own sleep aids will be offered ear plugs, sleep bands, natural sleep remedies or white noise machines. Ecuador complained to Fifa after supporters kept their squad awake with loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles outside their hotel late at night.

Mexico City sits about 2,240 metres above sea level, and Tuchel said that would make the tie a “big disadvantage” for England. “The altitude will be a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it,” he said. “And in four days, it’s just impossible. More obstacles may come, but we are ready for that.” He added: “My understanding is that we cannot adapt to the altitude. That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have.”

Mexico have played all four of their World Cup matches at high altitude, with three at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City and one in Guadalajara, which is about 1,566 metres above sea level. The Azteca holds more than 87,000 spectators, and Mexico have lost only two competitive matches there in their entire history and have won all three of their World Cup games at the stadium in this tournament without conceding.

Tuchel has consulted Team GB coaches on England’s plan, but England have decided against oxygen therapy training. Friday night will be the hardest for sleep, with Saturday night easier, before the match kicks off at 1am on Monday in the United Kingdom.