Tuchel urges parents to let kids stay up for England World Cup match

England manager Thomas Tuchel has urged parents to let their children stay up late to watch England's World Cup last-16 match against Mexico, which kicks off at 01:00 BST on Monday. The game will be broadcast live on BBC TV, radio, and online, but with most children still in school, the late kick-off presents a dilemma for families.

Asked for his message to parents, Tuchel said: "Write an excuse for school and let them watch. There's so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch. There will be a big match in four days, and we need the support of everyone, especially the children."

Schools adapt to accommodate fans

While parents face tough decisions, some schools are finding creative solutions. Steve Heal, headteacher at Malmesbury Primary School in Wiltshire, said the school would open at 07:00 BST to show a delayed full replay of the game to students. "We'll give them a bit of breakfast, and we'll be done by nine o'clock in time to start school," he explained. "That way they're not going to miss a night's sleep and they're not going to miss a morning of school and we'll just ask their parents to not let them know what the result is."

Heal added that if the game goes to extra time, an exception might be made. "We might not actually get started with our learning until nine thirty. As a one-off, I'll take the Thomas Tuchel route and write them a note making an excuse. It is the World Cup after all."

Altitude poses challenge for England

England's victory over DR Congo, secured by a Harry Kane double, booked their trip to Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, which sits about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) above sea level. At that altitude, lower atmospheric pressure means thinner air and less oxygen intake per breath, creating clear difficulties for athletes. Mexico, who have played all four of their World Cup games at high altitude—three at the Azteca and one in Guadalajara (about 1,500 meters or 5,000 feet above sea level)—are accustomed to the conditions.

"The altitude will be a big disadvantage because we cannot physically adapt to it," said Tuchel. "It just takes too much time. We have only three days in between these matches. It's physically just not possible to adapt to the altitude." Research indicates that athletes need a week or two living at high altitude to acclimatise and generate more red blood cells, but England will arrive in Mexico City only two days before the match.

"That is just a huge advantage that Mexico will have," added Tuchel. "More obstacles may come, but we are ready for that. This is just something with which we will have to deal. And I think we showed the attitude that we are ready for that."

Tuchel dismisses pressure concerns

England are seeking to end a long wait for a second World Cup title, 60 years after their only triumph. The weight of expectation can often be heavy, but Tuchel did not feel it affected his side's performance against DR Congo. "I did not see any of that," he said. "It would be so easy to give in and to accept that narrative. I didn't see any of that, and that is a very, very good sign."