England fan pays £850 for Azteca ticket while best friend scrambles to find one for Mexico clash

James Rogers paid £850 for his ticket to England’s World Cup clash against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City — but his best friend and fellow travelling supporter John Fayer is still searching for one, with kick-off fast approaching.

The two Kent-based Manchester United fans made the trip to Mexico together, visiting the iconic Azteca ahead of the match. Rogers, a 41-year-old diplomat from Maidstone, described the stadium as “like a cathedral for football” and said the price of his ticket — equal to his annual Manchester United season ticket — was worth every penny. “England had better turn up and win,” he added.

Fayer, a 64-year-old director of a children’s home from Canterbury, has been unable to secure a seat and is holding out hope for a last-minute breakthrough. “I just haven’t been able to get a ticket, I’m still trying but at the moment I haven’t got a clue where I will watch it,” he said. “There’s nothing around.”

The pair’s predicament underscores the demand surrounding the fixture. Fayer is a devoted United supporter who has not missed a home or away match in 34 years — the sole exception being a spell of illness in 1992 — making the prospect of missing this game all the more painful.

Meanwhile, the England squad arrived at their hotel under heavy security. Heavily armed military police escorted the team bus through Mexico City’s streets, with national guard vehicles positioned ahead and behind. Around 500 Mexican supporters gathered outside the hotel, where there were minor protests, some fireworks, and a band, though the atmosphere was described as largely good-natured before riot police moved the crowd on. Sniffer dogs were also taken aboard the bus to check for explosives.

England captain Harry Kane urged supporters back home to embrace the unusual scheduling of the tournament. “I’m hoping there will be a few all-nighters, just going all the way through and celebrating until the next day,” Kane said. “I think everyone would love nothing more than to be celebrating as the sun’s rising at 5, 6am.”