England fans brace for 2am kick-off as World Cup tie with Mexico delayed at the Azteca

Hundreds of England fans settled in for a sleepless night in London after the Three Lions’ World Cup tie against hosts Mexico at the Azteca Stadium was delayed to a 2am UK kick-off, forcing supporters to weigh national pride against Monday morning alarm clocks.

At the Clapham Grand in south-west London, caffeinated crowds shrugged off the later-than-expected start time for Thomas Tuchel’s side. It is England’s toughest assignment of the tournament so far — their first return to Latin America’s most famous stadium since Diego Maradona’s Argentina eliminated them at the 1986 World Cup.

“It will mess up work tomorrow, but overall it’s not that bad,” said Aaron Andrews, who predicted a 2-0 England win. “We’re all drunk already. As long as the boys bring it home it’s fine.”

Much of the pre-match conversation centred on the Azteca’s altitude — the stadium sits 7,220 feet (2,240 metres) above sea level — and how Tuchel’s players would cope. Taylor Jones, 25, acknowledged “the breathing thing is a problem” but remained confident England would progress, backing Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane to score.

Not everyone was convinced the altitude concern was warranted. Connor Griffin, 30, dismissed the worry as “a bit overhyped” and predicted a 3-1 England win, with Kane, Jude Bellingham and Eberechi Eze among the scorers.

Others were more cautious. Annie Saunders, 30, and Becky Brown, 26, described themselves as “a bit worried” about England’s chances at the intimidating venue. “I think it will go to penalties,” Brown said. “I really hope we’re okay but I think it might.”

Despite the late hour and the prospect of only a couple of hours’ sleep before the working day, the mood inside the venue remained upbeat — a collective willingness to sacrifice rest for the chance to watch England navigate one of their most daunting World Cup fixtures in decades.