More than 100 riot officers in bullet-proof vests are standing guard outside England's hotel in Mexico ahead of their World Cup 2026 round of 16 clash, after hundreds of local supporters gathered outside booing and chanting. The National Guard has been deployed around the hotel in Santa Fe, with a fence cordoning off the area and officers stationed around the perimeter.
Unwelcoming reception for England squad
The heightened security follows a rather unwelcoming reception for the squad upon their arrival for the knockout game against Mexico. England had hoped to keep their location secret after reports emerged of Mexican fans using loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles to disturb Ecuador's players' sleep before their last-32 tie. The co-hosts went on to win that match 2-0 on Wednesday night.
However, when the England coach arrived at the hotel, hundreds of fans were already there, with many jeering and others chanting 'Mexico'. Approximately 200 locals gathered near the hotel on Saturday. A police dog and drone have also been deployed in the area while the England team bus remains parked outside.
Massive police presence for match day
Mexican authorities have confirmed that 17,000 police officers will be on duty on Sunday, as reported by The New York Times. The match in Mexico City is set to kick off at 6pm local time (1am Monday UK time) at the Estadio Azteca, despite discussions about rescheduling due to storm warnings. Fifa sources confirmed on Friday evening that the slot remains unchanged, with stakeholders closely monitoring the situation.
Concerns over severe weather in Mexico City had sparked speculation about an earlier kick-off of 12pm local time – 7pm on Sunday in the UK. Pub owners across the UK had been anxiously awaiting Fifa's decision, and thanks to emergency legislation pushed through by Sir Keir Starmer, venues will be allowed to stay open late for the round-of-16 clash.
Kane hopes for all-night celebrations
England captain Harry Kane expressed his hope that his team could provide the perfect antidote to Monday morning blues by securing a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals. 'Obviously it's good news that the pubs are staying open for the fans,' he commented. Kane expressed his hope that fans back home would be pulling all-nighters to cheer on the team, saying: 'We know how much the World Cup means to everyone and all the fans at home, so I'm hoping there will be a few all-nighters to be honest, just going all the way through and celebrating until the next day and then catch up on some sleep after that.'
'Obviously it's very late and we all appreciate the support. That's what sometimes makes the World Cup so unique is these different timings and different memories that you create.' The England captain added: 'I think everyone would love nothing more than to be celebrating as the sun's rising at 5 or 6am.'
Prime Minister backs the team
In a show of support, Prime Minister Sir Keir predicted fans would be burning the midnight oil to watch the 'big game'. He stated: 'Mexico are a tough side to beat but we have a squad that knows what it takes to win. After the false hope of an earlier night, I know fans across the country will be staying up late to get behind the England team. And thanks to our change to pub licensing, they will be able to do that at their local, all through the early hours. Come on England!'
