FA fear Mexican fans will target England's hotel with fireworks before Azteca World Cup clash

England’s Football Association is bracing for a disruptive night ahead of the side’s round-of-16 World Cup clash against Mexico at the Azteca stadium, with officials fearing local fans will target the squad’s FIFA-designated hotel in Mexico City with fireworks on Saturday night.

The concern follows a near-identical incident before Mexico’s previous game, when hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Westin hotel in the Santa Fe district — where Ecuador’s squad were staying — and set off fireworks in an apparent attempt to disrupt the players’ sleep. Riot police were called to disperse the crowd, and Ecuador’s football bosses filed an official complaint with FIFA.

Mexico City mayor Clara Brugada has since urged Mexican fans to behave “responsibly, carefully and with empathy” ahead of the England fixture, though FA officials remain on alert.

England supporters, meanwhile, are scrambling for tickets in a city where resale prices have hit some of the highest levels of the tournament. The England Supporters’ Travel Club was allocated 4,000 tickets for the 80,824-capacity Azteca ahead of the draw in December, leaving Three Lions fans vastly outnumbered. One ticket on an official FIFA resale platform was listed for £2,600 on Friday night.

Two England supporters who had already visited Mexico City earlier in the tournament issued a safety warning to travelling fans, describing “terrifying and chaotic scenes.” Their caution came as four Mexican supporters died from suffocation during celebrations following the host nation’s previous match. Mexican authorities have assured England fans that adequate safety measures will be in place.

At Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport, the first England fans were already departing following the team’s 2-1 victory over Congo — a win inspired by Harry Kane. Graham Jones, 57, waiting to board, said: “My ticket is guaranteed through the FA but we still don’t know which section we are sitting in yet. It could be one of the great matches in England history.”

The logistical lengths some supporters are going to underline the demand. One fan is flying 1,000 miles north to Canada before travelling back down to Mexico City in order to reduce costs — a ten-hour journey that will cost approximately £380. Daniel Griffiths, 39, from Solihull, who now lives in Texas, said: “I’m prepared to pay big money for a ticket but I only want to be in the England section. This is not a game to sit among the Mexico fans. It could be very hostile.”