Prince William, the Prince of Wales, was among the first to congratulate the England football team after their historic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca Stadium. The win marked the first time the Three Lions have beaten Mexico at their national stadium, sending them into the World Cup quarter-finals.
Royal Praise and Social Media Reaction
William, a big Aston Villa supporter, took to social media shortly after the match ended at 4am UK time, writing: "Well done England! Bring on the quarter final!" The prince, who is also President of the Football Association, joined millions of fans across the country in celebrating the triumph in Mexico City.
England fans packed out hundreds of bars and pubs for the late-night clash, with the Government extending opening hours to 5am on Monday to accommodate the celebrations.
Quarter-Final Clash Ahead
England will now face Norway on Saturday in Miami, after Manchester City's Erling Haaland scored two goals against Brazil to send the five-time World Cup winners packing. Brazil managed only one goal in extra time. The quarter-final clash will kick-off at 10pm UK time.
William's World Cup Ambitions
Speaking on the New Heights podcast hosted by NFL star Travis Kelce and his brother Jason Kelce, William outlined his expectations for the tournament. When asked what a successful World Cup would look like for England, William replied: "I think winning it." He confirmed he would fly to the US if the Three Lions made it to the final, saying: "Definitely. If we're in the final."
Match Drama and Injury Concerns
The match was delayed by an hour due to forecasted thunderstorms and lightning strikes around the Azteca. England played much of the second half with 10 men after defender Jarell Quansah was sent off for a high tackle following a VAR review. Both sides were awarded penalties.
England boss Thomas Tuchel expressed mixed emotions after the win, praising his team's mentality but revealing that Jordan Henderson sustained a serious wrist injury after falling over an advertising hoarding during celebrations. Tuchel said: "My emotions are very mixed. I'm just proud of the mentality and the attitude. We did it with pure mentality, with heart. We overcame every obstacle that was thrown at us. But also sad because Jordan got injured. He injured his wrist. He is at the moment at the hospital, so it is quite a serious injury."
