The Tradition of the 'Serenade'

As England prepares for their World Cup encounter in Mexico, the team found themselves at the center of a local tradition known as the 'serenade'. Far from a romantic gesture, the serenade involves crowds gathering outside an opponent's hotel in the dead of night, using music, horns, and shouting to prevent players from sleeping.

England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the potential disruption, stating he would be "packing ear plugs," while player Morgan Rogers expressed slight apprehension, noting, "I won’t be happy if it wakes me up... It’s just another obstacle to overcome, another hurdle."

Police Intervention and Fan Activity

Unlike a previous incident involving the Ecuador squad, which saw hundreds of people chanting and honking horns at the Westin Santa Fe, the scene at England's hotel was more controlled. Police established two perimeters, ensuring the inner ring remained 200 meters away from the hotel.

By 11:20 PM, a small group began to gather, eventually growing to include teenagers, people offering shots of mezcal, and individuals with loudspeakers. While some locals viewed the event as "part of our folklore," others were critical. Rafael, a 30-year-old resident whose route home was blocked, argued that "football takes place on the pitch" and described the behavior as "over the top."

The festivities were short-lived as officers with riot shields began ushering revelers away from the hotel by 11:45 PM. A second wave of fans later set off fireworks and played drums on a footbridge, though they remained at a distance that likely left the England squad undisturbed.

Context and Expectations

The practice of disturbing opposing teams is common in South American football, frequently seen in the Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana. However, local fans noted that the intensity for England was lower than that for Ecuador. One local resident, Irving, explained that the Ecuador incident had a historic root, noting, "they did it to Mexico in 1993 (at the Copa America). With England, there’s no real reason."

As the teams prepare to face off at the Azteca, it seems the only thing threatening the England players' composure will be the match itself, rather than a lack of sleep.