They came with drums, trumpets, fireworks and plenty of noise.
Hundreds of Mexico supporters gathered outside England’s team hotel in the early hours of Monday, staging a traditional “serenata” in an attempt to disrupt the Three Lions’ sleep ahead of their Round of 16 matchup at Estadio Azteca. The raucous gathering, which featured loud music, chants and pyrotechnics, forced police and national guard to intervene around 2 a.m. to push the crowd back and restore order.
According to reports, fans tracked the England squad to the JW Marriott in Santa Fe despite the visitors booking multiple hotels as decoys. The serenata kicked off around 12:30 a.m., with a marching band leading the charge alongside blaring speakers and coordinated chants aimed squarely at the England players. Fireworks were set off, including several launched from a nearby bridge that exploded above the hotel.
The scene was loud enough to wake guests at the England hotel and surrounding properties, including some members of the media. However, England’s camp indicated that the high-end hotel’s soundproofing largely did its job, with players experiencing only minimal sleep disruption.
This type of passionate — and at times rowdy — fan behavior is nothing new in big international tournaments, particularly on home soil. Mexican supporters deployed a similar tactic against Ecuador earlier in the group stage. Heavy security, including more than 100 riot police, was already in place when England arrived at the hotel.
On the field later Sunday, the pre-match theatrics added to the cauldron-like atmosphere but didn’t prevent England from advancing. The Three Lions edged Mexico 3-2 in a thrilling knockout affair despite playing with 10 men for a significant stretch after a red card. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring with two early goals, Harry Kane converted a penalty, and Mexico mounted a late comeback that ultimately fell short.
Videos of the hotel serenata quickly went viral on social media, sparking the usual debate: celebration of football passion for some, unsportsmanlike conduct for others — especially given the use of fireworks.
With Mexico co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, nights like this have become part of the tournament’s vibrant backdrop. For England, it’s another chapter in dealing with hostile environments on the road to the quarterfinals.
