England have advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup, but fans face a sleepless night if the team progresses past DR Congo. Thomas Tuchel's side topped Group L with a 4-2 win over Croatia, a goalless draw with Ghana, and a 2-0 victory against Panama. Their reward is a round of 32 clash with DR Congo on Wednesday, kicking off at 12pm local time in Atlanta (5pm UK).
Potential 1am Kick-Off for Last 16
If England beat DR Congo, they will face the winner of Mexico vs Ecuador, which is being played in Mexico City on Tuesday evening (2am Wednesday UK time). The round of 16 match will also be held in Mexico City on Sunday evening, with a local kick-off time of 6pm, translating to 1am Monday morning in the UK. Fans will need to stay up until around 3am to watch the full game, posing a dilemma for those with work the next day.
Tuchel Vows Improvement
Despite unconvincing displays against Ghana and Panama, manager Thomas Tuchel expressed confidence in his squad. "We know what we need to get better and we will get better," he said after the 2-0 win over Panama. "There's no problem in putting the work in and growing into a tournament like this with difficult opponents to overcome. It is important now we keep believing, keep focusing on what we can influence."
Later Rounds Offer Better Times
Should England reach the latter stages, fans will be spared further late-night kick-offs. A potential quarter-final clash on July 11 would start at 10pm UK time. However, Tuchel's side must first overcome DR Congo in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two nations.
