Police Prepare for England’s Midnight World Cup Match Against Mexico
England’s late-night World Cup drama against Mexico will go ahead exactly as planned – and police are braced for a long, emotional night at home.
Fifa has confirmed that England’s last-16 tie in Mexico City will kick off at 01:00 BST on Monday (18:00 local time), sticking with the original schedule after rowing back on proposals to bring the game forward. For supporters across the country, it means another bleary-eyed start to the week. For police, it means a full-scale operation.
Police brace for England’s midnight kickoff
With pubs and fan zones expecting heavy trade deep into Sunday night, Devon and Cornwall Police have moved to get ahead of the occasion. Supt Joe Matthews urged fans to plan their journeys carefully if they intend to drink while watching the match.
His message was blunt: if you are driving, don’t drink.
He warned that even a small amount of alcohol can impair a driver’s ability, and dismissed the idea that there is a safe, universal way to drink and stay under the limit. “There is no reliable way to drink and stay within the limit – because everyone is different you cannot work out a safe level by counting units,” he said.
The old myths came in for short shrift as well. Time, Matthews stressed, is the only thing that clears alcohol from the body – not “sleep, coffee or a full English breakfast”. The danger does not end with the final whistle, or even with the last drink of the night.
He urged fans to think hard about getting behind the wheel the following day, warning that many could still be over the limit or unfit to drive on Monday morning after a late, alcohol-fuelled kickoff.
‘You could save a life’
Matthews called on the public to intervene if they fear someone is about to drive after drinking or taking drugs. He said people should call 999 if they suspect an immediate risk, adding: “you could save a life”.
Behind the scenes, the force has set up a specific World Cup policing operation, working closely with licensed premises across the tournament, with England match days under particular scrutiny. Officers expect the atmosphere to surge as the game wears on.
He described it as a “certainty” that emotions will be “running high” during and after the tie, with the stakes of a knockout match, the late hour and the setting in Mexico City all feeding into the tension.
His appeal to fans was simple: “Make the evening one to be remembered for all the right reasons.”
The superintendent also urged supporters to look out for one another as the night unfolds. “Keep an eye on your friends, and if it looks like they are getting a bit out of hand, just have a quiet word, step in, and walk them away,” he said.
England will be fighting to stay in the World Cup in the early hours. Back home, the test will be whether the country can celebrate – or commiserate – without tragedy on the roads.
