As the beginnings of a Mexico City thunderstorm swirl high above, dark clouds circling like a slow-motion whirlpool, a pair of English fans do not give a jot.
It is three hours before Mexico face England in the most anticipated match at the Estadio Azteca in 40 years. Attendees are being warned to take cover as the police implement their electrical storm protocol. But these adults, merry on pure vibes, are engrossed in the most childlike of games: a chalk-drawn hopscotch on the gravel, outside the stadium’s Cabecera Norte end, with “Viva Mexico” at the top. And the locals, kids and adults alike, are loving it.
