England would likely handle the Mexican altitude by starting to acclimatise as early as possible , managing hydration and recovery very carefully, and keeping the game tempo controlled if they can. Mexico City sits at over 2,000 metres above sea level, where thinner air can reduce oxygen availability and make intense running harder.

What altitude changes

At that height, players tire more quickly, repeated sprints become harder to sustain, and recovery between efforts slows down. One altitude specialist cited in coverage says VO2 max can drop by about 6–7% per 1,000 metres from around 1,500 metres, so Mexico City’s elevation is a real performance factor.

England’s likely approach

England’s best options would be:

  • Arrive early enough to adapt, ideally with several days of acclimatisation.
  • Push hydration, nutrition, and recovery harder than usual.
  • Rotate or manage minutes if the schedule allows, because the body works harder at altitude.
  • Avoid a constant end-to-end pressing game, since that can be costly in thin air.

Mexico’s edge

Mexico should have the advantage because they are more accustomed to playing at altitude, and the Azteca has been described as a fortress for them. Mexico also just beat Ecuador there, extending a strong home record and reinforcing how difficult the venue is for visiting teams.

One more complication

There is also a weather angle: reports suggest thunderstorms could interrupt the match, which would add another layer of disruption beyond the altitude itself.

If you want, I can turn this into a shorter forum-style post with a more casual tone.