The route to the 2026 World Cup final is now mapped out for England.
Later today (Wednesday 1 July) it is a 5pm (UK time) last 32 match against DR Congo.
If England get through that, they now already know what awaits them in the last 16.
A weather delayed match in the early hours of this morning (UK time) saw Mexico cruise past Ecuador.
With home advantage they went two up inside 31 minutes and then managed the rest of the match comfortably.
By winning all three group games it meant the co-hosts were able to continue playing at the Azteca Stadium and clearly this does them no harm.
Which brings me to England.
If England get past DR Congo, their last 16 match would be played in Mexico City at the Azteca Stadium with a 1am kick-off on Monday 6 July.
Mexico have now won all four matches at this 2026 World Cup, they have scored eight goals and conceded not a single goal.
England (assuming they get past DR Congo…) face the co-hosts who at the Azteca stadium have played 89 competitive matches, Mexico winning 70 of those 89 and have lost only twice!
Mexico have twice hosted the World Cup previously.
In 1970, Mexico played all three group stage matches at the Azteca Stadium without conceding a goal. They were knocked out by Italy but that was in Toluca and the Italians were losing finalists to a superb Brazil side.
The 1986 World Cup was very similar for the hosts at the Azteca Stadium and Mexico are yet to lose any of their 10 World Cup finals matches at this stadium.
The 80,824 at the Azteca Stadium for the win over Ecuador were almost exclusively supporting Mexico and dressed in Green. That atmosphere not for the faint-hearted.
The Azteca Stadium stands at more than 2,000 metres above sea level and playing at that altitude is not normal for England, whilst Mexico quite obviously thrive on it.
First things first of course, England need to win against DR Congo in Atlanta later today, then we can start and worry about Mexico at the Azteca Stadium…