World Cup: Lightning, spying fears, and security chaos greet England in Mexico
By BBC, July 4, 2026England were booed as they arrived at their hotel to prepare for their World Cup last-16 game against Mexico, but that will be far from their main issue in Mexico City.
The Three Lions face the tournament co-hosts on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 03:00 am.
There is increased security at England’s hotel after Ecuador, whom Mexico played in the last 32 in Mexico City, lodged a noise complaint with FIFA. And Thomas Tuchel’s side face further threats from the weather, the altitude, and, reportedly, even spying.
Fans’ disruptions
Before the last round Ecuador players were deliberately kept awake by local supporters, who used loudspeakers, horns and motorcycles outside the team hotel late at night. Mexico went on to win 2-0.
Ecuador stayed in the Westin Hotel and England wanted to keep their whereabouts undisclosed, but there were concerns that the location would be leaked. And hundreds of locals were waiting outside their hotel as the England team coach arrived on Friday, with some chanting “Mexico” and others booing.
Members of Mexico’s National Guard lined the entrance to England’s hotel, while police officers in riot gear stood next to barriers on the road outside the hotel.
England’s players and staff will be offered natural sleep remedies or white noise machines to try to avoid sleep disruption from the potential overnight noise. Some are likely to bring their own ear plugs or sleep bands too.
England attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers said: “I won’t be happy if it wakes me up – I will be honest. We’ll see how it goes, but we’ll deal with it as best as possible. It’s just another obstacle to overcome, but we’re ready.”
As well as the noise, some people struggle to sleep in higher altitudes.
England arrived two days before the game, as FIFA rules for this stage of the tournament state that teams must hold a part-open training session in the local area the day before the match.
Their preparations were disrupted on Friday by a chaotic five-and-a-half-hour period in which it emerged that FIFA was considering bringing the match forward by six hours because of forecast storms.
The Football Association and Mexico’s football federation (FMF) were angry at the proposal less than 48 hours before kick-off, and the game will now start as originally scheduled.
Kick off time changes
So while the game is now remaining at 03:00 am on Monday, that remains subject to the weather – with delays possible. Mexico’s last match against Ecuador at the same venue was delayed by an hour because of thunder and lightning.
“Daily thunderstorms are normal in Mexico City at this time of year – but forecasts suggest the risk on Sunday is particularly high, and if those storms develop, they could be severe,” says BBC weather presenter Ben Rich.
“On Sunday these storms look likely to bring frequent lightning, and there is also the risk of hail.
“Thunderstorm activity tends to peak around, or just after, the highest temperatures of the day—during the late afternoon and into the evening, which could affect kick-off. Moving kick-off earlier could have allowed the match to take place before the worst of the thunderstorm activity gets going—although this is certainly not guaranteed.”
A delay would not be good news for the players, the attending crowd… or the millions of fans in England who have stayed up into the early morning for the game.
Altitude concerns
England also face the challenge of playing the game at high altitude.
Mexico City has an average elevation of about 2,240m above sea level, meaning there is less oxygen available.
Fears of being spied on
Ideally, athletes should spend a week or two living at that altitude to allow their bodies to acclimatise and generate more red blood cells.
England has only arrived in Mexico City two days before the match.
According to the Daily Mail, one reason England delayed their trip from their base in Kansas City, Missouri to Mexico City was to avoid being spied upon.
The Three Lions trained on Friday at their camp in the USA—as they have done in between games all tournament.
However, an extra day in Mexico City may have been beneficial on this occasion. But Tuchel reportedly wanted to make sure any tactics he tried out in training were kept secret.
The newspaper report says England’s training ground in Kansas City was better protected by police and security guards from potential spying than La Cantera, which is Pumas’ training ground in Mexico City.