Two in-form nations meet at Estadio Azteca for a World Cup Round of 16 tie that has plenty of storylines. Mexico arrive with a perfect defensive record in this tournament. England bring volume, control and a No 4 world ranking. It is a classic styles matchup in Mexico City, and the numbers make it even more intriguing.

Sofascore will have live score, win probability swings and every Sofascore Rating in real time once the whistle goes. Until then, here is the pregame read grounded in hard data.

Setting the stage at Estadio Azteca

The setting is Estadio Azteca, capacity 87,523, with Mexico listed as the home team. Javier Aguirre’s side has enjoyed a strong World Cup 2026 campaign so far, posting 4 clean sheets from 4 matches and scoring 8 without reply. Their average team Sofascore Rating sits at 7.03, backed by tidy passing at 84.5 percent and a balanced shot profile with 33 attempts from inside the box.

England, managed by Thomas Tuchel, are ranked fourth in the world and unbeaten in six, with 8 goals scored and 3 conceded in the tournament. They have leaned on control, averaging 64.5 percent possession and completing 89.4 percent of passes. Their team Sofascore Rating averages 6.99 to date, and their shot count leads the matchup at 74 total, including 27 on target. It is a contrast of efficiency versus volume, and the venue adds a big-fight feel to a knockout tie.

Form guide and streaks

Mexico ride a seven-match winning streak and are unbeaten in 12. They have been the first to score in 7 of their last 8 and led at halftime in 6 of 8. The clean-sheet ledger is perfect in this tournament, and their back line has been decisive under pressure, with 104 clearances and only 6 shots on target allowed across 4 matches. Disciplinary numbers are calm too, landing under 4.5 cards in 6 of 7 recent outings.

England are unbeaten in six and also trend toward controlled match scripts. All of their last ten games landed under 4.5 cards, in line with Tuchel’s organized approach. In this World Cup run, they have generated 20 big chances but missed 15 of them, a reminder that their chance creation has been better than their finishing. That wastefulness meets Mexico’s clean-sheet streak, which is as strong a form note as you will find at this stage.

The history between these teams favors England. They have won both recorded meetings in the dataset, a 3-1 friendly victory in 2010 and a 2-0 win at the 1966 World Cup group stage. Mexico’s current form is better than that historical ledger suggests, but the head-to-head does add a layer of intrigue to a finely balanced Round of 16 tie.

Numbers that could decide it

Mexico’s attack is direct and selective. They have taken 50 shots with 16 on target, turning 11 big chances into 8 goals. The front unit is led by Julián Quiñones with 3 goals and a 7.68 Sofascore Rating, while Roberto Alvarado has supplied 3 assists and a team-high 10 key passes. The build-up is clean on both halves of the pitch, with 73.6 percent pass accuracy in the opposition half, and they are dangerous in transition with 2 fast breaks and 1 fast-break goal.

Defensively, Aguirre’s group has allowed just 32 shots total and 6 on target in four matches. Center-backs César Montes and Johan Vásquez have combined for 41 clearances and 282 accurate passes at close to 90 percent. Goalkeeper Raúl Rangel has 4 clean sheets and 6 saves, reflecting a unit that limits quality rather than relying on last-ditch stops. Mexico also win 56.4 percent of aerial duels, an area that will matter against England’s crossing game.

England’s profile skews to sustained pressure. They have delivered 111 crosses and earned 29 corners, with possession in the opposition half translating to 1,116 accurate passes there. Big creators include Declan Rice with 12 key passes and 1 assist, Jude Bellingham with 8 key passes and 2 goals, and Noni Madueke who leads expected assists at 1.50 despite no assists recorded yet. The challenge has been finishing: 74 shots, 27 on target, but 15 big chances missed.

At the back, Marc Guéhi and Ezri Konsa have been the high-volume passers, combining for 601 accurate passes at elite efficiency. England win 58.1 percent of aerial duels and 53.8 percent of total duels, so they match Mexico’s physicality well. The set-piece battle could swing things; England’s crossing quantity meets Mexico’s aerial solidity. If England turn volume into end product, their control numbers usually carry them across the line.

Players to watch

Mexico: Mateo Chávez, D, Sofascore Rating 8.1
Selection basis: highest average rating in this competition. In his single outing so far, Chávez scored once, completed 84.2 percent of his 16 accurate passes and won 71.4 percent of his duels. He added 2 successful dribbles from 2, 1 tackle won and posted a 100 percent shot conversion with 1 attempt on target. It is a small sample, but the impact was real and efficient, with 1 key pass and 5 accurate passes in the final third in just 78 minutes. Around him, Mexico’s form players include Julián Quiñones with 3 goals and Raúl Jiménez with 2 goals and a team-high 10 shots.