England fans are packing out pubs as they prepare for an epic all-nighter to watch the Three Lions take on Mexico in their last-16 World Cup clash.
The match was scheduled to kick-off at 1am UK time – with bars allowed to stay open until 5am on Monday morning – but it has now been delayed until 2am due to ‘adverse weather conditions’.
Huge crowds have already gathered at BOXPARK Wembley where a screening of the highly-anticipated game will be shown, as well as in fan zones across the country.
The game could go late into the night amid delays due to thunderstorms, which FIFA said had caused lightning strikes ‘in the vicinity of the stadium’.
FIFA briefly said it planned to bring the match forward by six hours in anticipation of the storms, but later reversed the decision.
On Sunday night, weather forecasts suggested a 60 per cent chance of thunderstorms at kick-off.
The big screens inside the stadium displayed signs warning people that an electrical storm was approaching and to remain in their seat, though people ran for cover when the heavens opened.
Play cannot begin until 30 minutes has passed since lightning was detected within an eight-mile radius.
England fans gather at BOXPARK in Wembley as they await kick-off, which has been pushed back to 2am due to thunderstorms
Huge crowds gather at BOXParty Wembley where a screening of the highly-anticipated game will be shown, as well as in fan zones across the country
England fans are packing out pubs as they prepare for an epic all-nighter to watch the Three Lions take on Mexico in their last-16 World Cup clash
In Britain, millions of England fans are expected to be late or absent from school and work tomorrow, with employers braced for a ‘mass sickie’ after the match in Mexico City.
Many children are being allowed to stay up well past their bedtimes – after manager Thomas Tuchel this week urged parents to allow it – and dozens of schools have decided to turn a blind eye.
Shadsworth Junior School in Blackburn, Lancashire, wrote on Facebook: ‘We know many families and staff will have been up cheering on the Three Lions, so children can arrive up until 11am on Monday without being marked late.’
In Mexico City, hundreds of thousands of fans are expected to take to the streets following the last-16 showdown.
Police deployed 7,500 officers to the Azteca Stadium and 6,000 more to the city centre in the biggest operation ever seen for an England football match.
It comes after a million people crowded around the Angel of Independence statue in the city centre after Mexico’s match against Ecuador last week, with four people dying in the crush.
Mexico have played all of their World Cup matches at their home Azteca stadium – scene of the infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal by Diego Maradona.
Every seat in the 80,824-capacity arena is set to be equipped with a Mexico flag.
England fans brave rainy conditions as they arrive for their team’s last-16 game at the Mexico City stadium on Sunday
The England team bus arrives for the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at Mexico City Stadium
In Britain, ‘Hangover Monday’ could cost the economy millions as workers either fail to show up or spend today being unproductive.
Experts warned of the dangers of driving or doing physical work while exhausted.
Dr Sophie Bostock, from the sleepscientist.com, said: ‘If you’ve been awake for 24 hours and you’re planning to just ‘push through’, your reaction time slows by over 50 per cent.’
Six million staff – almost one in five employees – have taken annual leave, three times more than usual, industry sources said.
With pubs open for business and those watching at home turning on kettles at the same time for half-time cups of tea, National Grid bosses had predicted a sudden demand spike of up to 600MW, the equivalent of one whole nuclear reactor.
A spokesman for the National Energy System Operator said: ‘Demand rises at half-time. Our control room was ready for this moment, using batteries and pumped hydro storage to keep the system balanced.’
Many bars enjoyed a record trading day, from 11am yesterday to 5am this morning.
Mike Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, which represents pubs and other venues, said: ‘Millions of additional pints will have been sold in pubs across the country.’
Ronnie’s Bar in Hockley, Essex, said: ‘A 1am kick-off on a Monday morning is ridiculous and absolutely brilliant. We stayed open for the game, with big England energy.’
