Mexico City Gripped by World Cup Fever Ahead of England Tie
Mexico City is humming with an energy that even its famously chaotic streets have rarely seen, as El Tri prepare to face England in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. According to The Guardian, which sent reporters into the heart of the capital, the atmosphere has been building steadily since Mexico hosted the tournament’s opening game three weeks ago — and it has now reached something close to fever pitch.
The most telling indicator of the mood may be the shirt sales. Mexico’s national team jersey has outsold every other at this World Cup, and demand has only grown since Tuesday night’s 1–0 win over Ecuador, which put El Tri into the knockout rounds for the first time since 1986. Around the Zócalo — Mexico City’s vast central square — vendors were doing a roaring trade long before the final whistle.
The street scenes after that Ecuador match were extraordinary. The Guardian reports that an estimated 1.4 million people watched on outdoor screens across the city, despite a fierce storm that delayed kick-off by an hour. That figure dwarfs the 400,000 believed to have turned out for Mexico’s opening group win over South Africa. Sadly, four people were killed in a crush and dozens more were trapped during the celebrations, putting pressure on authorities to tighten safety arrangements before Sunday’s showdown.
Speak to almost anyone near the Zócalo and the belief is unshakeable. Francisco, quoted by The Guardian, put it plainly: