Mexico, by contrast, arrive with a clear environmental advantage. The co-hosts have played three of their four World Cup matches at the Azteca and won all three, including victories over South Africa, Czechia and Ecuador. Historically, the stadium has been a fortress: Mexico have lost only two of their 89 competitive matches there and are unbeaten in their last 22 competitive games at the venue (16 wins, six draws), although the average FIFA ranking of those opponents was 57.
