Can England survive the Azteca altitude? We simulated the World Cup showdown on EA FC 26 and it predicted more penalty drama and a stunning result05:01, 04 Jul 2026How are your frayed nerves, England fans? Need something to ground you a little after Wednesday night's 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo?‌Well, we might just have the thing for you in that case. After Harry Kane's heroics in Atlanta, England travel to Mexico City to face one of the 2026 World Cup co-hosts in their own backyard.‌And what a place to visit after some unconvincing performances so far. Estadio Azteca has played host to plenty of iconic World Cup moments.‌England fans, of course, know all about the Azteca's history. Sitting 7,220ft above sea level, it's a venue steeping painful World Cup memories for England - most notably Diego Maradona's infamous Hand of God in 1986.So how about it - can England overcome the ghosts of the past and present to finally arrive at the 2026 World Cup? Or will their uninspiring form that has had them stumbling their way into the Round of 16 end any hopes of further progress?We took to EA Sports FC 26 to try and predict the result. Here's how it all happened.‌England v Mexico starting line-ups simulated by EA FC 26Thomas Tuchel faces a few more selection headaches ahead of the clash in Mexico, with the right-back position still of concern. England's only fully fit player in that role, Djed Spence, was underwhelming against DR Congo, and Reece James and Jarrell Quansah are both expected to remain unavailable.Elsewhere, the German head coach may be tempted to make changes after performances from England's wingers and centre-backs left a lot to be desired. Our simulation seems to agree, as the digital version of Tuchel withdrew three players from the starting XI.‌Marcus Rashford, Noni Madueke and Ezri Konsa all made way for the Last 16 tie, swapped out for Anthony Gordon - whose two assists gave Kane the platform to inspire the 2-1 comeback - Bukayo Saka and John Stones. Spence kept his place, however, as Tuchel awaits a return to action for his other full-backs.England simulated starting XI vs Mexico: Jordan Pickford; Djed Spence, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Nico O’Reilly; Declan Rice, Elliot Anderson, Jude Bellingham; Bukayo Saka, Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon.England v Mexico World Cup Round of 16 simulated by EA FC 26There was an early scare once again for England in Mexico City, as the co-hosts' forward Julian Quinones headed towards goal from a cross on four minutes. Jordan Pickford however denied him with a superb reflex save.‌Maybe this time, England's nerves wouldn't factor into the match. And on 21 minutes, Kane had the perfect opportunity to settle them entirely.After Johan Vasquez handled the ball in the box, the skipper stepped up to the spotlight for the resulting penalty. But Kane uncharacteristically skewed his penalty to the wrong side of the left-hand post, and the score remained unchanged.The first half was a cagey affair following this miss, but four minutes before the interval Kane made amends with a powerful drive across Mexican goalkeeper Raul Rangel. Some breathing room at last for England - but it would get better still before half-time.‌After a minute of injury time, Jude Bellingham doubled the lead when he was found in acres of space on the six-yard box by Nico O'Reilly. Bellingham swept the ball into the opposite corner, and Tuchel went into the break delighted.The second half began much like the first - a quiet, cagey affair where both sides seemed mainly concerned with preventing the opposition from having the ball. But Elliot Anderson was about to blow the roof off of the Azteca and make England safe.‌On 67 minutes, Anderson finished off a wonderfully well-worked, patient move that involved some first-touch passing from all three of England's forwards. Manchester City's newest signing then thumped the ball into the roof of the net to kill off the game.Despite leading so comfortably, Mexico were determined to exit the tournament they co-hosted with their pride intact. Seven minutes later, Quinones capped off a quick move that took full advantage of England's disjointed backline to pull a goal back.‌There was one more heart-in-mouth moment for England fans. With a minute of added time played, Raul Gimenez sought to give the Three Lions a nervous finale.But Pickford again showed his class to deny the Wolves striker. His top-class footwork ensured the result, and the nerves of every England fan in Mexico City, remained intact.England v Mexico final result simulation by EA FC 26Mexico 1 - 3 EnglandArticle continues belowAnd so, after the nerve-jangling experience of seeing Kane miss a penalty for the second time in a World Cup knockout tie, England fans would breathe huge sighs of relief before the ecstasy of Anderson's third goal. A match against either Brazil or Norway awaits in Miami on Saturday, July 11 should they succeed as the simulation predicts.Beyond that? It's hard to count your chickens at the moment if you're an England fan.But supposing the Three Lions find a way past the powerhouse of South American football or indeed the Erling Haaland-inspired Norse, Tuchel and his men face a semi-final back in Atlanta - potentially against Lionel Messi's Argentina.