World Cup: England receive Declan Rice boost ahead of Mexico duel
By BBC, July 4, 2026Declan Rice is likely to start for England in their World Cup last-16 game against Mexico, according to BBC Sport, despite his ongoing injury problem.
The Arsenal and England midfielder was in “terrible pain” during the round-of-32 victory over DR Congo, his national team boss Thomas Tuchel revealed after the game.
Struggling
Rice, whose injury is affecting his hamstring and his lower back, was taken off in stoppage time that game, and he was clearly struggling with his fitness.
The midfielder, who is England’s vice-skipper, was seen icing the back of his hamstring later after the clash.
Tuchel said after the match of Rice, “I asked him. He said: ‘I can do it for the team, but I am in terrible pain.’
“When Declan tells you he is in terrible pain, then you know he cannot take it any more.”
This comes as England remains thin on the ground with earlier injuries to defenders Reece James or Jarrell Quansah. It remains to be seen if they will be fit to return after missing the previous match.
Meanwhile, the Three Lions were booed as they arrived at their hotel to prepare for their World Cup last-16 game against Mexico in Mexico City.
There was increased security at England’s hotel after Ecuador, whom Mexico played in the last 32 in Mexico City, lodged a noise complaint with FIFA. And Thomas Tuchel’s side face further threats from the weather, the altitude, and, reportedly, even spying.
Fans’ disruptions
Before the last round, Ecuador players were deliberately kept awake by local supporters, who used loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles outside the team hotel late at night. Mexico went on to win 2-0.
England’s players and staff will be offered natural sleep remedies or white noise machines to try to avoid sleep disruption from the potential overnight noise. Some are likely to bring their own earplugs or sleep bands too.
England arrived two days before the game, as FIFA rules for this stage of the tournament state that teams must hold a part-open training session in the local area the day before the match.
Their preparations were disrupted on Friday by a chaotic five-and-a-half-hour period in which it emerged that FIFA was considering bringing the match forward by six hours because of forecast storms.