Henderson admits England felt Mexico altitude before knockout
Jordan Henderson admitted England could feel Mexico City altitude during their final training session before the next England game at the World Cup. Speaking at the Azteca Stadium on Saturday, he said the thin air was noticeable on arrival and in the first 10-15 minutes of training, but insisted the squad would offer no excuses. His comments came after England trained at Pumas' Quarry and just before FIFA ended speculation over a late kick-off change.
With Thomas Tuchel's side chasing a quarter-final place, altitude and scheduling became twin talking points ahead of a last-16 tie at roughly 2,400 metres above sea level.
Key Takeaways
- Henderson said England felt Mexico City's altitude on arrival and during the opening 10-15 minutes of their final training session.
- England flew into Toluca on Friday evening to allow two nights of adjustment before the Azteca showdown.
- FIFA confirmed the next England game against Mexico would still kick off at 1am UK time on Monday, July 6.
- Henderson joked about Viagra altitude rumours before stressing England would not use conditions as an excuse.
What did Jordan Henderson say about Mexico's altitude?
When asked to assess conditions, Henderson was candid. "You can feel it a little bit," he said. "You felt it a little bit even when you just land and come into the hotel, and you just walk around, you can feel something."
He added that the sensation was strongest early in training. "For me personally, I felt it maybe in the first 10-15 minutes," he explained. "Once training finished, I stopped thinking about it so much and just concentrated on the session."
Henderson also admitted his sleep had been affected, though he insisted it was manageable. He hoped that once the warm-up was done, focus would shift entirely to football.
When does the next England game kick off against Mexico?
Despite speculation that FIFA might bring the fixture forward six hours because of predicted thunderstorms, the governing body confirmed the original schedule would stand. England versus Mexico is set for 1am UK time on Monday, July 6, matching 6pm local time in Mexico City.
As BBC Sport reported, the tie will proceed at 01:00 BST as planned after a late U-turn. Henderson said shifting between midday and evening kick-offs would not unsettle England.
How is England preparing for high-altitude football?
England officials opted to fly the squad into Toluca on Friday evening, giving players two nights to adjust to thinner air. Henderson backed that approach after Saturday's session, describing the facility as top level.
Tuchel acknowledged Mexico's physical adaptation was an advantage, but said England would accept the challenge without complaint. For broader coverage of how elite sport navigates extreme environments, see our Future Tech & AI Wonders section.
Will altitude be an excuse for England against Mexico?
Asked whether the conditions were unfair, Henderson joked about reports suggesting England might use Viagra to cope with altitude. "Well, the Viagra helped!" he quipped, before making clear he was not being serious. Tuchel had earlier dismissed those rumours as untrue.
On a serious note, Henderson insisted England would not hide behind circumstances. "Everything that we can't influence, like kick-off times or altitude or stuff at the hotel, is not in our control," he said. "For us it's about full focus on our job ahead, no excuses."