sports📡 The GuardianBy Guardian sportJul 5, 2026👁 5 views
England at the Azteca Stadium: a potted history – in pictures
England at the Azteca Stadium: a potted history – in pictures
England return to the Azteca Stadium for the first time in 40 years as they take on co-hosts Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup. We take a look at the games the Three Lions have played in this iconic setting. And yes, Maradona is featured
Composite: Getty, Alamy, Reuters, ShutterstockJohn WindmillSun 5 Jul 2026 05.00 EDTLast modified on Sun 5 Jul 2026 16.00 EDTShare
England v Mexico – 1 June 1969
The then world champions pay their first visit the Azteca in 1969 during an end-of-season tour ahead of the World Cup the following summer. A crowd of 105,000 were treated to a drab 0-0 draw, which kicked off off in stifling midday heat.Photograph: Rolls Press/Popperfoto/Getty ImagesShareView image in fullscreenExhausted England players leave the pitch at the end of the game against Mexico. Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty ImagesShare
England v Italy – 6 June 1985
England travelled to Mexico in 1985 to take part in the ‘Aztec 2000’ tournament alongside México and West Germany. Confusingly, they participated in a concurrent tournament featuring Italy under the guise of the ‘Ciudad de México Cup’. England lost the game 2-1, thanks to a controversial late penalty by Alessandro Altobelli (pictured here, with Peter Shilton) in front a sparse crowd of just 8,000.Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty ImagesShare
England v Mexico – 9 June 1985
Coming off the back of a loss to Italy, England struggle to contain an exciting Mexico side, slumping to 1-0 defeat, heaping more pressure on the under-fire manager Bobby Robson.Photograph: PA Images/AlamyShare
England v West Germany – 12 June 1985
England took on West Germany in an another mid afternoon kick-off in the blistering sun of Mexico City. Despite the heat, England played the West Germans off the park but Franz Beckenbauer’s men would fare better the next summer, reaching the World Cup final in the same stadium.Photograph: PA Images/AlamyShareView image in fullscreenThe England manager Bobby Robson chats to his West Germany counterpart Franz Beckenbauer after England cruise to a 3-0 victory over their great rivals, with goals from Bryan Robson and Kerry Dixon.Photograph: Paul Popper/Popperfoto/Getty ImagesShare
England v Paraguay – 18 June 1986
England struggled through their group at the 1986 World Cup, losing to Portugal, drawing with Morocco and beating Poland to set up a last-16 tie against Paraguay. Gary Lineker scored twice in the Azteca against the South American side on his way to the Golden Boot.Photograph: PA Images/AlamyShareView image in fullscreenEngland celebrate at full time as goals from Gary Lineker and Peter Beardsley helped the Three Lions see off their South American opponents and set up a tantalising quarter-final against Argentina and Diego Maradona…Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty ImagesShare
England v Argentina – 22 June 1986
England and Argentina come into the Azteca cauldron in front of 114,000 fans for their quarter-final of the 1986 World Cup. The game kicked off at noon in energy-sapping heat.Photograph: Leo Mason/Popperfoto/Getty ImagesShareView image in fullscreenEngland and Argentina fans pose together outside the stadium before the game.Photograph: Aflo Co. Ltd./AlamyShareView image in fullscreenJosé Luis Brown tangles with Terry Butcher in a first half epitomised by hard tackles and cagey play.Photograph: Mike King/Getty ImagesShareView image in fullscreenDespite a lack of goals, Diego Maradona began to assert his dominance as the first half progresses.Photograph: Aflo Co. Ltd./AlamyShareView image in fullscreenThe Hand of God moment. Maradona chases a miscued Steve Hodge clearance to reach the ball ahead of Peter Shilton to put Argentina in front. Despite the entire stadium seemingly aware of the handball, referee Ali Bin Nasser awarded the goal. Maradona later reflected on his goal: ‘I knew it was my hand. It wasn’t my plan but the action happened so fast.’Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty ImagesShareView image in fullscreenThe England fans in the stands cheer on the team, despite going a goal down. Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas Sports Photography/Getty ImagesShareView image in fullscreenDiego Maradona goes from the ridiculous to the sublime in four second-half minutes. Picking up the ball in his own half, he slaloms past four defenders and calmly slots past Peter Shilton to score one of the greatest goals of all time.Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesShareView image in fullscreenGary Lineker pulls a goal back for England late in the game but Argentina hang on for a famous victory.Photograph: Aflo Co. Ltd./AlamyShareView image in fullscreenEngland’s manager Bobby Robson spoke at full time on Maradona’s handball: ‘It wasn’t the hand of God, it was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it.’Photograph: Trinity Mirror/Mirrorpix/AlamyShareView image in fullscreenGlenn Hoddle, Gary Lineker and Terry Fenwick trudge off the pitch at full time.Photograph: Mirrorpix/Getty ImagesShareExplore more on these topics
