Summary

  • England fans across the world are revelling in the aftermath of the World Cup last-16 game against Mexico

  • England are into the quarter-finals after beating Mexico 3-2 in a match delayed by an hour due to severe storms

  • Pubs in England and Wales were able to open until 05:00 after the government relaxed licensing laws for the game

  • Some schools say they will let students start slightly later due to the awkward timing of the match

  • Workplaces are also bracing for an increase in tired staff and people coming in late this morning

  • How have you adapted your sleep schedule to watch England play? Get in touch

  • If you didn't see the match live, those of you in the UK can tune into a full re-run of the game at 07:10 BST on BBC Two, or watch it now on BBC iPlayer

Watch fans react to every goal of England v Mexico game

Live Reporting

Edited by Toby Mann

  1. Watch fans react to the England win

    'Best game I’ve ever watched': Fans in London react to England win

  2. Later starts or business as usual? How employers are reacting

    Jemma Crew
    Business reporter

    Gareth Lewis, Deputy CEO (left/white shirt)and Joshua Elash, CEO and Co-Founder (right/red shirt)MT Finance Group

    Joshua Elash (right) and his deputy chief executive Gareth Lewis flew out to the World Cup to watch England play Croatia in their opening match

    England's middle-of-the-night World Cup clash with Mexico has prompted calls for employers to use their "common sense and understanding" and allow flexible working where possible.

    While some industries such as manufacturing and retail will be less able to provide flexibility, others are offering bleary-eyed fans later starts so they can catch up on sleep.

    Joshua Elash, who runs London-based firm MT Finance Group, is allowing his staff to start work at 11:00.

    "It wasn't a dilemma at all. This was as close to a no-brainer as a business can get," he says.

    Zaid Patel, director of estate agency Highcastle Estates, has cancelled his team's usual Monday morning meeting and is allowing staff to start late or book last-minute leave. He'll "get the black coffees ready" for those who do come in.

    You can read more about what employers are doing here.

  3. A sea of red and white in Manchester

    Eager fans watched on from Freight Island in Manchester, where they celebrated the end result of with jubilant cheers.

    Two fans wearing England football jerseys celebrate with their arms in the air.PA Media

    All smiles for the Three Lions

    Three fans draped in the England flags pose for the camera.PA Media

    Red and white for England fans

    A man sings while holding his hand to the England football team's logo on his chest.PA Media

    Country pride

  4. Fans in Wembley go wild!

    Fans watching the game on a big screen in Boxpark in Wembley have been celebrating following England's epic win against Mexico.

    A fan celebrating wearing a bucket hat and England football jersey in a massive crowd of people.PA Media
    Fans celebrate following a screening of the FIFA World Cup match between England and Mexico at BOXPark Wembley in LondonPA
    Two female fans in England football jerseys celebrating with their hands up in the air.PA Media
    A group of male fans celebrate England's World Cup win with their hands raised in a crowd.PA Media

  5. Trump gives special callout to Harry Kane

    US President Donald Trump has called "Harry Kane of England a GREAT player!!!" in a post on Truth Social.

    Kane scored England's third goal through a penalty in the 60th minute.

  6. It's not just England fans filling the pubs, as Mexicans fiesta at London watch party

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    There are an estimated 13,000 Mexicans living in the UK, according the Office for National Statistics 2021 Census.

    Late last night around 400 of them who live in London made their way to a watch party in St Paul's, where the change in licensing laws meant they could take in the game surrounded by the familiar smells, sights and sounds of their home country.

    Run by MexiBrit, an organisation promoting Mexican culture and traditions in the UK, a watch party promised big screens, South American street food, and an incredible atmosphere.

    All at short notice, too; reacting just after the government's decision to extend license rules, the organisation's founder Paola Feregrino admits she'd had a "very stressful day" putting everything in place.

    She expected a 400 strong crowd sell-out.

    "It's been really positive, people have been going crazy," she says.

  7. 'Please try and get kids into school,' says education secretary

    Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson speaks to media at the launch of the National Year of Reading campaign at the Emirates Stadium in LondoPA Media

    After England's victory against DR Congo, England manager Thomas Tuchcel urged parents to let their children stay up to watch today's match.

    "Write an excuse for school and let them watch," he said on Wednesday. "There's so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch."

    Asked about his comments earlier this week, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told BBC Newsnight she would not "make requests on parents around bedtime," saying they were in the best position to decide.

    But she did issue a plea to "try and get out kids in" to school this morning.

  8. Teens celebrate with no school today

    One of our BBC colleagues watched the game at Station House in Acton and described the atmosphere as fantastic despite the one-hour delay.

    Electra, 13, is taking the day off school today - she's glad to be here, and says it was really tense watching. She even predicted the score would be 3-2 to England!

    She was rooting for Saka on the pitch.

    A teenage girl smiling into the camera wearing a red England football jersey.Nisha Patel/BBC

    Electra predicted the score

    Otto, 13, found the game nerve wracking.

    The two Bellingham goals were "quite amazing," he says. 3-2 to England, he says - with Saka to score!

    Otto is also having the day off school.

    A teenage boy smiling into the camera wearing a blue England football jersey.Nisha Patel/BBC

    Otto can enjoy the celebrations all day

  9. Pubs can stay open until 05:00 after government relaxes licensing laws

    England supporters cheer after their team's first goal as they watch the football match between England and Panama at The Clock pub in Hebburn, north-east EnglandGett

    Pubs in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 05:00 BST this morning, allowing football fans to enjoy the result against Mexico.

    The government had initially said it would not relax licensing laws further than they already have been for the World Cup.

    But in a U-turn later on Thursday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said pubs could stay open until the final whistle.

    "Football might be coming home but we're making sure fans don't have to," he said on Thursday afternoon.

    Publicans and businesses welcomed the change. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: "We all know the best place to watch the match is down the local."

    Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said it was "fantastic news" that would be "hugely welcomed by operators".

  10. A sleepless night, a sleepless day?

    Jamie Morris
    BBC News

    Michaela and her dad Noddy at the pub.

    Michaela and her dad Noddy watched the World Cup in Reading

    Michaela and her dad Noddy were locked in through the night for this morning's knockout game.

    For them, like many others, it meant a sleepless night – and a short window until the start of the work day.

    Despite the change to kick off - at Blue Collar Corner in Reading they said they were "in it for the long haul".

    When asked about what the rest of her day looks like, Michaela replies: "Long."

    "8am start but determined to get in at 8 and finish at 4. Do we sleep?"

  11. How are you coping with the later kick-off? Get in touch

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  12. Watch a full replay of the match on BBC Two at 07:10

    If you didn't stay up to watch the match overnight, those of you in the UK can tune into a full re-run of the game at 07:10 BST on BBC Two.

    The full game is also now available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

  13. English pubs packed as Mexico World Cup match underway

    It's been a late one for football fans and pub workers across the country as England kicked off against Mexico at 02:00 BST after a delayed start.

    There will be celebrations long into the morning now we know England will progress to Saturday's quarter final against Norway after beating Mexico 3-2.

    Pubs across the country remained open all night after the government U-turn on licensing laws permitted them to stay open until 05:00.

    Stick with us and we'll have updates and reaction throughout the morning - as well as a few tips on how to get through the workday.

    England fans attend a watch party at Boxpark Croydon for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Mexico and EnglandGetty Images