Harry Kane: 'Stay Up and Celebrate the Dawn With Us' – England Captain Urges Fans to Pull an All-Nighter

England captain Harry Kane has called on supporters to brace for a sleepless Monday as Thomas Tuchel’s side take on World Cup co-hosts Mexico in the round of 16 at the iconic Estadio Azteca. The match kicks off at 1 a.m. UK time, turning the clash into an endurance test for the most devoted Three Lions fans. FIFA briefly considered moving the game to a more viewer-friendly 7 p.m. BST slot (noon local) due to a serious thunderstorm threat, but after strong resistance from both football associations, the governing body stuck with the original schedule. Instead, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took the unprecedented step of allowing pubs to stay open until 5 a.m., giving fans a place to gather and soak in the occasion. “Obviously it’s great news that the pubs will be open for the fans. We know how much the World Cup means to everyone of us and to everyone back home. To be honest, I hope there will be people who don’t sleep all night, see it through, and celebrate into the next day, then catch up on sleep later,” Kane said. The England skipper highlighted what makes the tournament special: “It’s very late and we appreciate your support enormously. That’s what sometimes makes the World Cup so unique – these different moments and the great memories we create together. I think everyone would most like to celebrate a sunrise at 5 or 6 in the morning.” Kane believes that booking a quarterfinal spot will be the perfect cure for Monday morning blues, turning a sleepless night into a party that lasts until dawn.