England's World Cup training base in Mexico City leaked as sabotage fears grow

Mexican media have disclosed that England will use La Cantera — the training ground of Liga MX club Pumas (Club Universidad Nacional) — to prepare for their World Cup 2026 last-16 tie against co-hosts Mexico on Monday at 1am BST.

The leak intensifies concerns that England could face the same orchestrated disruption that derailed Ecuador’s preparation earlier in the tournament. Thousands of Mexico supporters gathered outside Ecuador’s team hotel and kept players awake through the night ahead of their last-32 encounter, prompting the Ecuadorian Football Federation to lodge a formal complaint with FIFA over the lack of sportsmanship and the conditions their squad was forced to endure.

FIFA regulations require all squads to arrive in the host city at least 24 hours before kick-off, making at least one night on Mexican soil unavoidable for Thomas Tuchel’s side. Locals are reportedly planning to deploy loudspeakers, car horns, music and motorbikes to deny England players the rest they need before facing Mexico at the high-altitude Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

While the FA has managed to keep England’s hotel location private so far, officials acknowledge that a leak is likely once the team coach arrives. The FA has secured FIFA approval to establish roadblocks around the team hotel, a precaution designed to prevent a repeat of the Ecuador scenes.

Tuchel, whose side edged past DR Congo 2-1 in the previous knockout round, is under no illusions about what awaits his squad. “We will expect that of course, but what shall we do?” the Germany head coach said. “We will bring stuff [like earplugs], of course, but I expect everything.”

Mexico, considered a sterner test than DR Congo, will carry the weight of home support at the iconic Azteca, where altitude and atmosphere are expected to add further pressure on England’s preparations.