Prince William joined the nation in celebrating England's hard-fought 3-2 victory against Mexico, securing their place in the World Cup quarter-finals. The Prince of Wales shared his congratulations via a post on X, formerly Twitter, shortly after the match concluded.
"Well done England! Bring on the quarter final!" Prince William wrote, echoing the sentiment of millions of fans who stayed up late to watch the tense encounter. The match, which kicked off at 2 a.m. UK time following a thunderstorm delay, saw England hold onto their lead despite being reduced to ten men.
The team is set to face Norway in the quarter-finals after Norway's victory over Brazil. The match against Norway will determine a spot in the final four in Miami on Saturday.
Notable moments in the game included Jude Bellingham scoring two quick goals, followed by Mexico's Julian Quinones narrowing the gap. England regained their advantage when Harry Kane converted a penalty after Anthony Gordon earned it. However, the team faced a setback when defender Jarell Quansah received a red card after a VAR review. Mexico further reduced the deficit with a penalty converted by Raul Jimenez after Harry Kane was judged to have committed a foul.
Following an intense 11 minutes of added time, the final whistle confirmed England's progression.
Across the country, fans gathered in fan zones and pubs, with many pulling an all-nighter for the early morning kickoff. Employers had braced for potential absences or lateness on Monday, with reports of fans taking the day off work. Celebrations were evident in various locations, including Boxpark Wembley in London, where supporters erupted in joy, embraced, and sang along to songs like "Sweet Caroline."