Thomas Tuchel, who is currently managing the England football team, has made an appeal to parents regarding their upcoming match against Mexico. However, this request is not being entertained by government authorities.
After securing a victory over Dr Congo on Wednesday (July 1), the Three Lions have progressed to the round of 16 and are set to compete against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City.
For fans in England, the timing of the game poses a challenge as the match is scheduled to start at 1am on Monday.
With the potential for the match to extend into extra time and possibly penalties, it could conclude as late as 4am.
This schedule presents a dilemma for children who have school just hours later, making it difficult for many to watch the game.
Following England’s triumph over Dr Congo, Tuchel urged parents to allow their kids to watch the game and to ‘write an excuse’ for their absence from school the following day.
He stated: “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football. There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch.
“There will be a big, big match on in four days and we need the support of everyone, and especially of the children.”
The UK government, however, has clearly stated that children ‘should be in school on Monday’, effectively rejecting the idea of kids skipping school to watch the game.
A spokesperson from No 10 commented: “Obviously parents can make their own decisions and I think the minister for skills put it well when she said she’d be having a disco nap. We want everyone to enjoy the game but children should be in school on Monday.
“Parents can make their own mind up but we want everyone to enjoy the game, that includes children. But they should be in school on Monday.”
Skills minister Baroness Jacqui Smith appeared on LBC’s Nick Ferrari at Breakfast, expressing concern that children might miss out on essential learning if they heed Tuchel’s call to prioritize the World Cup.
She remarked: “I don’t want to be a killjoy here, but I’ll tell you what the biggest killjoy is – young people who then don’t have the learning to be able to go on and do what they need to do in life.
“I quite understand if people want to watch the match, including young people, I will be.
“I’ll be having a little disco nap in the afternoon and I’ll be celebrating our victory the next morning when I go into work, looking obviously as fresh as a daisy.”
Fans planning to watch the games in person should be prepared for significant expenses. Here’s a breakdown of the costs for accommodation, tickets, and food and drink:
NBC conducted a survey on hotel prices, focusing on the five least expensive hotels within a 15-mile radius of the station as of the end of last month.
Those who booked a hotel for the US’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 paid approximately $710 for a two-night stay in Los Angeles.
Fans aiming to attend the match against Turkey on June 25 will encounter similar pricing.
Now, onto the cost of tickets for the games…
Tickets for the opening game against Paraguay were priced starting around $646, according to Seatpick.
For the matches against Australia or Turkey, tickets were on sale from $640.
After all the financial planning, a drink might be in order…
Price points at a warm-up match between England and New Zealand at the Raymond James stadium in Tampa, Florida on June 6 gave a hint of World Cup expenses, which isn’t welcome news for fans.
A large beer was listed at $18.75, while a bottle of water cost $7.50.
According to Football Ground Guide, a basic meal and a beer will cost $32.24 at the Los Angeles SoFi Stadium, where the USA’s first and third group stage games are scheduled.
In contrast, the same items at Lumen Field in Seattle, where the US played Australia, were priced at $26.88.