Tuchel vows England will claim World Cup karma at Azteca, 40 years after Hand of God

Thomas Tuchel has declared that England will finally receive World Cup “karma” at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City — the same ground where Diego Maradona’s Hand of God goal eliminated them 40 years ago. England face joint hosts Mexico at the iconic venue in the 2026 World Cup, marking their first return since that notorious 1986 quarter-final.

Maradona punched the ball past goalkeeper Peter Shilton to open the scoring in that match, a moment Tuchel described as the biggest act of cheating in World Cup history. Despite having no direct connection to England at the time — he was just 12 years old during the 1986 tournament — the Germany-born coach said the memory is firmly etched in his mind.

“Not only as English people. Even me. I didn’t have a connection to it but it means something,” Tuchel said. “Yes, it will reward us. We will get it back. It’s karma. Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around.”

Tuchel also reflected on the broader history of that tournament, noting the photographs that line the walls at St George’s Park. “I remember of course the World Cup of Maradona. Two goals against England. One that was dribbling and one that would never stand these days,” he said. “These big framed pictures from Gary Lineker scoring in I think Guadalajara and of course of the coaches and Peter Shilton. Big pieces of history. This is a big moment to make peace with the stadium and turn things around.”

The task facing England is a formidable one. Mexico have played 89 competitive matches at the Azteca, winning 70, drawing 17, and losing just two — both this century, against Costa Rica in 2001 and Honduras in 2013. Tuchel acknowledged that England will be heavily outnumbered in the stands by Mexican supporters, describing the Azteca as one of the most intimidating stadiums in world football.

Nonetheless, the England head coach appeared energised rather than daunted by the occasion, framing the fixture as an opportunity to rewrite a painful chapter of the nation’s football history.