England Booed On Arrival In Mexico City Ahead Of World Cup Last 16 Showdown

England’s preparations for their 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 clash against co-hosts Mexico suffered an uneasy start after the squad was greeted by boos and whistles from hundreds of home supporters upon arriving at their team hotel in Mexico City.

The England team coach was met by a large crowd of chanting fans, with many shouting “Mexico” while others jeered the visitors as they made their way into the hotel.

Security was noticeably tight, with members of Mexico’s National Guard stationed at the hotel entrance and police officers in riot gear positioned behind barriers outside the venue to keep the crowds under control.

The heightened security follows an incident before Mexico’s Round of 32 victory over Ecuador, when Ecuador’s players were reportedly kept awake late into the night by home supporters using loudspeakers, car horns and motorcycles outside the team’s hotel. Mexico went on to win the match 2-0.

England had hoped to keep the location of their hotel confidential to avoid a similar situation, but those plans were thwarted after details of the team’s accommodation became public, allowing supporters to gather before their arrival.

The hostile welcome caps a challenging build-up for Gareth Southgate’s side. Earlier on Friday, reports suggested FIFA was considering bringing forward Sunday’s kick-off from 6.00 pm local time to midday because of forecasts of heavy storms and possible flooding in Mexico City.

However, following objections from both the Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation, the match will go ahead at its original scheduled time.

England also face the demanding task of playing at high altitude. The Estadio Azteca sits around 2,240 metres above sea level, where the thinner air can affect stamina and performance. Sports scientists generally recommend athletes spend at least one to two weeks acclimatising to such conditions, but England have had little time to adjust before the knockout tie.

The eagerly anticipated encounter kicks off at 6.00 pm local time on Sunday (1.00 am BST on Monday), with a place in the World Cup quarter-finals at stake.