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Hundreds of Mexican football fans attempted to disrupt the rest of England’s players on the eve of their World Cup last-16 encounter by setting off fireworks, flares, and playing loud music near the team’s hotel in Mexico City.

On Sunday morning, social media was filled with videos showing large groups of Mexico supporters trying to keep Thomas Tuchel and his England squad awake ahead of their crucial knockout match at the high-altitude Estadio Azteca. The match is scheduled to begin at 1am BST on Monday (6pm local time).

Footage revealed fireworks and flares being launched close to the hotel where the England team is staying in the Santa Fe district of the Mexican capital on Saturday night. Dozens of fans gathered outside, making noise and playing traditional brass band music with drums and trumpets.

Similar incidents took place earlier in the week before Mexico’s round-of-32 win over Ecuador at the same venue on Tuesday. That event led Ecuador to lodge an official complaint with FIFA after losing 2-0 in a match that had been delayed by an hour due to lightning and thunder. Ecuador’s players reportedly endured a sleepless night caused by fireworks, blaring music, motorbikes, loudspeakers, and car horns outside their hotel.

The England camp had been expecting such disturbances and came prepared. Many players reportedly brought earplugs and sleep masks for their two-night stay in Mexico City. According to a BBC report, those without sleep aids were offered relaxation remedies or white noise machines to help them rest.

The England team arrived in Mexico City late on Friday night from their training base in Kansas City amid uncertainty over whether FIFA would move the match to a midday local kick-off (7pm BST). There had been concerns about possible delays caused by heavy rain and flooding, but officials eventually decided to keep the original schedule following strong opposition to the change.

Attempts were made to keep the team’s hotel location secret to avoid pre-match disturbances, yet the plan quickly fell through when England’s arrival by coach was met by a group of Mexico supporters, some of whom jeered the team.

Security around the England delegation has been significantly ramped up. The team’s hotel, which is surrounded by fencing to prevent outside access, is being guarded by over 100 National Guard riot police wearing bullet-proof vests. A police dog unit and drone surveillance are also operating nearby.

Mexican authorities are deploying a massive force of 17,000 police officers across Mexico City on Sunday, including 7,500 stationed at the Estadio Azteca. According to The Sunday Telegraph, this represents the largest security operation ever organised for an England football match.

Tragically, four people lost their lives during the large-scale celebrations that followed Mexico’s win over Ecuador on Tuesday. That victory marked Mexico’s first success in a World Cup knockout fixture since they last hosted the tournament in 1986.