England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to let children stay up for the team’s next game against Mexico, but ministers have pushed back on the suggestion.
England booked their place in the last 16 with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over DR Congo on Wednesday, July 1, and will now face co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City on Monday, July 6.
The match is set for 1am BST, making it a difficult watch for fans in the UK, particularly schoolchildren and families trying to balance work and education the following morning.
If the tie goes beyond 90 minutes and into extra-time or penalties, the game could finish closer to 4am.
After the victory over DR Congo, Tuchel made a light-hearted plea for parents to make an exception so children could watch the game, even suggesting they provide a note for school the next day.
“Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch.
“There will be a big, big match on in four days and we need the support of everyone, and especially of the children.”
Downing Street later said parents could make their own decisions, but stressed that children should still be in school on Monday morning.
“Obviously parents can make their own decisions and i think the minister for skills put it well when she said she’d be having a disco nap. we want everyone to enjoy the game but children should be in school on Monday.
“Parents can make their own mind up but we want everyone to enjoy the game, that includes children. But they should be in school on Monday.”
Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith also addressed the issue during an appearance on LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, warning that missing school could have consequences for children’s education.
“I don’t want to be a killjoy here, but I’ll tell you what the biggest killjoy is – young people who then don’t have the learning to be able to go on and do what they need to do in life.
“I quite understand if people want to watch the match, including young people, I will be.
“I’ll be having a little disco nap in the afternoon and I’ll be celebrating our victory the next morning when I go into work, looking obviously as fresh as a daisy.”
The game is England’s biggest test yet in the tournament, with Mexico having the advantage of home support at the Estadio Azteca and the added challenge of Mexico City’s high altitude.
For supporters considering travelling out for matches, the costs involved are substantial, from hotels to tickets and refreshments.
NBC reviewed hotel prices by taking the average cost of the five cheapest properties within 15 miles of the relevant station at the end of last month.
Fans who arranged a trip for the US opening match against Paraguay on June 12 were looking at roughly $710 for a two-night stay in Los Angeles.
A similar outlay applies for those hoping to attend the game against Turkey on June 25.
Ticket prices add another major expense.
Seatpick listed entry for the Paraguay opener from about $646.
For the fixtures against Australia or Turkey, prices started at $640.
And once inside the stadium, fans can also expect to pay heavily for food and drink.
At England’s warm-up match with New Zealand at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on 6 June, concession prices offered a glimpse of what supporters might face during the tournament.
A large beer was being sold for $18.75, while a bottle of water cost $7.50.
Football Ground Guide also reported that a standard meal and a beer at Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium — the venue for the USA’s first and third group games — would come to $32.24.
At Lumen Field in Seattle, where the US faced Australia, the equivalent purchase was priced at $26.88.