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Tickets for England’s Round of 16 encounter against co-hosts Mexico at the 2026 World Cup have reached staggering levels, with some listings priced as high as $36,000 (approximately £27,300).

The highly anticipated match is challenging records for the most expensive World Cup knockout fixtures in history. England secured their spot with a hard-fought 2-1 win over DR Congo, courtesy of Harry Kane’s decisive contribution, setting up an enticing showdown at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, scheduled for 1am BST on Monday.

Outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to ease UK licensing regulations to allow pubs to remain open into the early hours of Monday morning for fans wishing to watch the game. However, supporters hoping to witness the action live in Mexico are confronted with exorbitant ticket prices on FIFA’s official resale platform.

The Estadio Azteca, which will host the fixture, remains one of the most legendary football venues in the world. England have enjoyed strong backing throughout the tournament, with an estimated 25,000 fans supporting Thomas Tuchel’s men in previous matches. Nevertheless, the majority of tickets for this clash are expected to go to Mexican supporters.

The 80,000-seat Azteca holds a special place in football history as the venue where England last played a World Cup match in 1986 against Argentina, a contest remembered for Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal and his breathtaking ‘Goal of the Century’. Approximately 4,000 England fans secured tickets through the official Football Association allocation earlier this year.

It is anticipated that the number of England fans inside the stadium could rise to around 8,000, but ticket prices on the secondary market have soared to unprecedented levels.

For members of the England Supporters Club, initial ticket prices were far more modest: Category 3 seats were available for $235 (£175), Category 2 for $605 (£452), and Category 1 for $770 (£576).

Following England’s victory over DR Congo, FIFA’s resale site listed Category 1 tickets for as much as $35,648 (£26,678), Category 2 for up to $11,845 (£8,865), and Category 3 reaching $19,453 (£14,558).

Authorities are also bracing for potential unrest in Mexico City surrounding the match. Tensions have been high since the start of the tournament, with clashes between police and protesters before the opening game, and tragic scenes when three Mexican fans were crushed to death during celebrations after the team’s 2-0 win over Ecuador in the last 32.