The area surrounding the JW Marriott Hotel in Santa Fe, Mexico City, suddenly became chaotic early Sunday (5/7/2026). Dozens of Mexican national team supporters reportedly gathered in front of the England squad's hotel equipped with noise-making gear, ranging from horns to fireworks, in an effort to disrupt the Three Lions' rest.
This action is part of a psychological tactic frequently used by Latin American fans to disrupt their opponents' preparation before a crucial match. Although local police were on standby at the location, the host team's crowd persisted and kept chanting until late into the night.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred at the 2026 World Cup. Previously, a similar disturbance targeted the Ecuador national team during the knockout stage, triggering an official protest from the relevant football federation to the organizing committee. Nevertheless, the tradition of creating noise outside the opponent's hotel continues as a form of psychological pressure.
Responding to the disruption, England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted he was not surprised. He stated that his team had anticipated potential issues like this and emphasized that a few hours of disturbed sleep would not break his squad's focus ahead of the upcoming round of 16 clash.
