England fans partied late into the night and through the morning after the Three Lions triumphed in a memorable 3-2 win over Mexico in the World Cup round of 16. Thomas Tuchel's team overcame a 54th-minute red card, a controversial penalty decision, and 11 minutes of injury time at the Azteca stadium. Goals from Jude Bellingham (two) and Harry Kane (penalty) were followed by a resilient defensive performance to secure the victory.
Late-Night Celebrations Across the Country
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had declared that pubs could stay open until 5am under a special one-off relaxation of licensing laws. At Wembley's Box Park, fans roared as Bellingham scored twice in quick succession during the first half, sparking celebrations with flying plastic pints and CO2 cannons. Similar scenes unfolded at fan parks in Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle.
Ollie, 29, who did not want to give his surname, joked he would be "very ill" in a few hours when he needed to go to work. "Luckily my manager is also ill," he said. "The win was a long time coming."
Economic Boost for Hospitality
Susannah Streeter, chief investment strategist at Wealth Club, said: "The tills were ringing all night at establishments which stayed open for the game, and the tournament is expected to provide a multi-million-pound boost to the industry as England’s run continues." According to payments company Dojo, spending at pubs and bars was already running 17.3% higher during the first two weeks of England’s World Cup campaign than in the preceding fortnight.
Tuchel Praises Team Spirit
England boss Thomas Tuchel said: "I just want to say thank you. If you stayed up and sent us your energy, I just want to say ‘thank you’." He added: "The biggest lesson is that this team has a heart and a mentality and a togetherness that is one of a kind. I think that our fans here and our fans in England can be so proud."
Next Match and Advice for Fans
England's reward is a World Cup quarter-final against Norway at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on Saturday. Early education minister Olivia Bailey encouraged children to attend school despite potential tiredness, saying: "You might feel a bit tired, but that’s also important to learn that resilience." Professor Charlie Pedlar, an exercise science expert, recommended fans "bank" sleep before the match to mitigate health risks from sleep loss.
