Mexico's World Cup Journey: Home Advantage and Tactical Pragmatism

Mexico were quarter-finalists on the two previous occasions they were World Cup hosts - in 1970 and 1986 - and are now a win away from repeating that feat.

However, this is by no means a vintage Mexican side, with relatively few players based in Europe's top five leagues and the team's biggest name, Raul Jimenez, in the twilight of his career.

There had been some negativity before the World Cup around El Tri's style of play, with pockets of fans even booing them in goalless draws against Uruguay and Portugal, but the atmosphere during the tournament has been partisan. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre says the support has been "a driving force" behind their run of four straight wins without conceding a goal at the tournament.

Aguirre usually prioritises defensive pragmatism and often fields a narrow front three, with full-backs providing the width when Mexico attack.

The co-hosts have home advantage and are benefiting from additional recovery time and playing at altitude, where the thinner air can sap opponents' energy.

They work tirelessly to regain possession quickly and underlined their defensive solidity in March's draws with Portugal and Belgium, while they are yet to concede a goal at this tournament. Johan Vasquez and Cesar Montes complement each other effectively at centre-back, making Mexico a tough nut to crack.

Despite scoring eight goals at this World Cup so far against limited opposition, Mexico have often struggled to find attacking fluency under Aguirre.

If England can cut off the home side's passing lanes and disrupt their usual attacking patterns, Mexico may be short on ideas.

Mexico are short on star power so hopes are high that Tijuana's creative midfielder Gilberto Mora can develop into the talisman they are searching for. The 17-year-old is the youngest player in Mexico's World Cup history, and also the youngest from any nation to start a knockout game since Brazilian legend Pele in 1958.

Raul Jimenez, 35, usually delivers when Mexico need him most – just as he did in last year's Gold Cup final against the United States, when he equalised in a 2-1 win. The striker - who has agreed a return to Wolves from Fulham this summer - had failed to score at the past three World Cups but has managed two goals so far in this one.

El Tri are the tournament's fourth smallest team but Cesar Montes, 29, is a dominant presence in both boxes. The 6ft 3in tall centre-back, who scored three times at last year's Gold Cup, joined Lokomotiv Moscow in 2024 after an unsuccessful 18-month stint in Spanish football.

Javier Aguirre, 67, has restored competitiveness and team harmony in his third spell in charge, though not all fans enjoy his pragmatic style.

A former midfielder who played for Mexico at the 1986 World Cup, he was also the coach when they reached the last 16 in 2002 and 2010.

Assistant Rafa Marquez - the only man to captain a country at five World Cups - will succeed him after this tournament.

If there were such a thing as a mid-table team at the World Cup, it would probably be Mexico. They are almost ever-present, yet no side has played as many matches at the tournament - 64 in total - without lifting the trophy.

Their supporters can be demanding but expectations were more modest this summer. However, the co-hosts ended a 40-year wait for a knockout win by beating Ecuador, so confidence will be raised for their match against England.

The failure to reach an elusive fifth game – the curse of the 'quinto partido' – plagued Mexico for generations. El Tri went out in the round of 16 at seven consecutive World Cups between 1994 and 2018, before ending that sequence in the worst possible way in Qatar, where they exited at the group stage.

Since then, Mexico have hired and fired two coaches before bringing back the vastly experienced Aguirre for a third spell in charge in 2024.

No stone has been left unturned in his preparations. El Tri played 22 matches over the past year before the tournament began, giving Aguirre ample scope to experiment with tactics and personnel. He used 54 players in that time, fewer than half of whom made the final squad.

Those who did are well drilled now, especially the 12 domestic-based players. Most were told to report for training on 6 May, meaning some squad members were in camp for five weeks by the start of the World Cup.