It may turn out to be the best game at this World Cup.England’s 3-2 win against Mexico at Estadio Azteca had it all. Unfortunately for those watching Thomas Tuchel’s side back home, it involved staying up late, setting an alarm for what had been set to be a 1am kick-off in the UK or trying to avoid spoilers until the morning — and that was before a weather delay pushed the match back to 2am.From the queue for Wimbledon tickets to 30,000ft above sea level via a Portuguese tourist hotspot and a Mexican bar in London, this is where our writers (and readers) watched it.Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic appGeorge Edwards and Amelie Claydon, the queue at WimbledonAt 3.30am, instead of waiting for the stewards’ morning call, the Wimbledon queue was awake.Many campers had set alarms for 1am, heard about the delay and returned to their sleeping bags. Those waiting for tickets watched from tents, phones and tablets.Amelia, Hannah, Laura, Archie and Will, friends from Oxford University, had decided after 10pm to join the queue. One wore an England shirt, another an eye mask, and all five gathered around a laptop.Amelie Claydon/The Athletic“We were panicking about missing the game,” Laura says. “We had to watch the match but wanted to be in the queue in good time, so we came with no camping equipment to lie here together.”Jude Bellingham’s first goal brought a distant cry of “yes”, followed by applause that was quickly hushed. His second produced the same response, with delayed streams causing celebrations to move across the campsite.May, Alice, Wilf, Erin and Daniel had been asleep before the goals woke them. Fearing they were missing out, they turned on the commentary and crowded around a phone. “We heard the celebrations and thought, ‘That sounds good’,” said Daniel.There was no communal screen, so one group could be celebrating a goal while another was watching England build that attack.“There are plenty of screens dotted around, but this is Wimbledon, so most people are being respectful and cheering on the inside,” said Oxford graduate Laura.Just before 4am, polite applause spread around Wimbledon Park before attention quickly returned to the queue.Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero, Mexican restaurant in LondonIt is 2.42am at Mestizo, a Mexican restaurant in Camden, London, and beer is flying.For the 500 Mexico fans packed in, it is as if the last 41 minutes have not happened. Julian Quiñones has just scored to take El Tri within a goal of England and, 5,500 miles away, their supporters have newfound hope. “Y si si?” rings out. What if it happened?Mexico fans in London celebrate Quiñones' World Cup goal against EnglandTomás Hill López-MencheroThis north London restaurant was a mini-Azteca. A mariachi band keeps spirits high during the delay and tacos are washed down with Coronas and margaritas. England’s anthem is booed, before the Mexican equivalent is belted out. Then every English touch is whistled, every Mexico tackle applauded.It is a special game for those with a foot in each country. Estefania Lozornio, from Guanajuato, central Mexico, has just moved to the UK capital on a spouse’s visa and wants to see “the euphoria of my people”. Itzel Canas, who is Mexican-English, says “there wasn’t really a discussion” when it came to where to watch the game with her England-supporting boyfriend Zac Kamarpour.Melena Taylor and Jojo from Bradford met in the queue for the event (Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero/The Athletic)Bellingham’s double almost silences the bar, before the ecstasy of Quiñones’ goal. With fans having celebrated Jarell Quansah’s red card, Harry Kane punctures the air. Right on cue, a Mexico penalty check is accompanied by Cielito Lindo, with its famous chorus “sing, and don’t cry”.Few feel like doing that at the final whistle, even if there is applause for their heroes.“I’m Mexican in my heart, for all my life,” says 44-year-old Eduardo Gomez. “But this country, this city, has given me everything. So now I’ll put on the white shirt of England.”Eduardo Gomez puts on a brave face after Mexico’s defeat (Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero/The Athletic)Gregg Evans, Albufeira (Portugal)The final five minutes were fraught.In the square of Albufeira’s old town, where Brits flock on holidays, the atmosphere had been building for hours, but the mood quickly turned.The one remaining screen showing the game began to fail shortly before 4am. Bars nearby had closed an hour earlier due to Portuguese restrictions on opening times, so thousands of England supporters were squinting at a single TV.It was edgy. The early singing was replaced by nervousness. Confusion over why such an important game was slowly disappearing had everyone feeling anxious.Then, with 87 minutes on the clock, the square turned to darkness. Bottles smashed on the floor. Boos and jeers echoed but the forward-thinkers stepped up. Find a stream on their phone, turn the device sideways and host for those nearby.What happened in those closing minutes are a blur, but the celebrations were wild. Grown men hugging. Teenagers experiencing their first memorable World Cup moment. Neutrals embracing all the chaos and learning the words of Wonderwall too.Gregg Evans, right, with his friends in Albufeira (Gregg Evans/The Athletic)Watching in Albufeira and getting the job done will stay in the memory bank.Craig Chisnall was asleep (on the early shift) so Seth Chisnall, 11, and friends at Tom’s house, Sawbridgeworth, HertfordshireOur parents wouldn’t let us stay up to watch the game on a school night so the next best thing was a party before school.