Thomas Tuchel’s England squad will land in Mexico City on Friday braced for a hostile reception — not just from the altitude, but from thousands of home fans determined to deny them sleep before Sunday’s World Cup last-16 tie.
Mexico City mayor Clara Brugada has urged supporters to behave “responsibly, carefully and with empathy”, but fears are high after Ecuador’s squad was deliberately kept awake by loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles outside their hotel before their own match here. Riot police were called, and Ecuador lodged a formal complaint with Fifa.
“England face a hostile Mexico City night as fans plot to disrupt sleep before the World Cup last-16 tie.”
England, staying at a designated Fifa hotel whose location they hope to keep secret — though there is concern it will leak on social media — are taking precautions. Players and staff who haven’t brought their own ear plugs or sleep bands will be offered natural sleep remedies or white noise machines.
The match kicks off at 01:00 BST Monday, live on BBC One and iPlayer. Skills minister Baroness Smith said she will take a “disco nap” ahead of the game, while a poll by The Standard found 35% of Londoners plan to bunk off work on Monday.
Tuchel has conceded altitude will be a “big disadvantage”. Mexico City sits at 2,240 metres above sea level, meaning less oxygen. “In four days it’s just impossible to adapt,” Tuchel said. “Mexico will have a huge advantage.”
England supporters will be vastly outnumbered inside the 80,824-capacity Azteca Stadium. The FA was allocated 4,000 tickets for the match; resale prices have soared, with one ticket on Fifa’s official site listed at £2,600.
Two England superfans who have already visited Mexico City this tournament issued a chilling safety warning to fellow supporters, describing “terrifying and chaotic scenes”. Meanwhile, four Mexican fans died from suffocation following celebrations after Mexico’s last game.
Graham Jones, 57, waiting at Atlanta airport after England’s 2-1 win over DR Congo, said: “My ticket is guaranteed through the FA but we still don’t know which section we’re sitting in yet. It could be one of the great matches in England history.”