Mexico vs England took a sharp turn the night before the World Cup last 16, when Mexico supporters tried to wake England players with music and fireworks outside their hotel in Mexico City. Police moved the fans back, and early signs from the camp were that the disturbance had minimal impact.
Thomas Tuchel said England’s treatment in Mexico had been “nicer” than he expected, and he described the home fans as “friendly and respectful”. That assessment sat alongside the disruption outside the hotel, where a group of supporters was seen chanting, playing music and setting off fireworks nearby.
Police in Mexico City
Police in riot gear lined the streets immediately around the hotel, and anyone attempting to get close was moved away. The stronger security presence followed Ecuador’s noise complaint to Fifa after fans with loudspeakers, motorbikes and horns disrupted their sleep last week.
That response changed the scene outside England’s base. The attempt to unsettle the players did not become a prolonged standoff; it was pushed back before it could gather much force, leaving the camp to carry on with its preparation for the knockout match at Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
Thomas Tuchel and England
On Saturday, the England team left their hotel for training under enhanced security and were met with a mixture of cheers and jeers. Tuchel’s comments gave a different read on the trip, with the England boss choosing “nicer” and “friendly and respectful” to describe the reception overall.
Mexico and England were scheduled to play at Azteca Stadium on Sunday evening local time, with the match set for 01:00 BST on Monday. After the fireworks outside the hotel, the practical question is how much the noise changed England’s preparation before a last-16 tie that had already drawn a heavier security ring around the team base.
