England's players were met with jeers and hostile chants from hundreds of locals as their team coach pulled up outside their Mexico City hotel on Friday, ahead of Sunday's FIFA World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico.

Some of the crowd chanted "Mexico" while others directed boos at the arriving squad, reflecting the charged atmosphere building around the tournament co-hosts' home tie.

Security tightened after Ecuador complaint

England's hotel location had been kept under wraps, but word eventually spread — and heightened security measures are now in place. The precaution follows a formal noise complaint lodged with FIFA by Ecuador, who faced Mexico in the last 32 in Mexico City.

Ecuador players were reportedly kept awake through the night by local supporters gathered outside their hotel, using loudspeakers, horns, and motorcycles to disrupt their rest. Mexico won that match 2-0. Ecuador had stayed at the Westin Hotel.

Chaotic preparations before kick-off

England's build-up has been far from smooth. On Friday, their preparations were thrown into disarray by a turbulent five-and-a-half-hour episode in which FIFA considered moving the match forward by six hours due to forecast storms in the city.

Both the Football Association and Mexico's football federation (FMF) expressed anger at the proposal, which surfaced fewer than 48 hours before kick-off. The game will now proceed at its originally scheduled time of 01:00 BST on Monday.

England arrived two days ahead of the fixture, as FIFA regulations for this stage of the competition require teams to hold a part-open training session in the local area the day before the match.

Altitude adds another obstacle

Beyond the off-field drama, England must also contend with the physical challenge of competing at altitude. Mexico City sits at an average elevation of approximately 2,240m above sea level, where reduced oxygen levels can affect athletic performance.

Specialists recommend that athletes spend one to two weeks acclimatising at such heights to allow their bodies to produce additional red blood cells — a luxury England's schedule does not afford them.