A downpour on the morning of July 6 was no match for Hong Kong’s World Cup fever. By around 10am that Monday, a thick crowd had already formed outside Central’s Takshing House, where pedestrians stood several rows deep along Dot Cod’s long glass frontage, peering inside at England’s knockout-stage clash with tournament co-hosts Mexico.Fans in England shirts packed the restaurant, and waves of cheering erupted the moment Harry Kane slotted home a penalty to put the Three Lions 3-1 ahead.After 24 years in its former basement venue in Landmark Prince’s, Dot Cod relocated in March – after a 19-month hiatus – to its current ground-floor location in Takshing House. The restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling glass frontage has made it far more visible from the street, turning it into something close to a public viewing screen for passers-by.For many fans, it was not just the action on the pitch that drew them in, but the combination of a central location, live match atmosphere and breakfast service.Among those who came specifically for the match was a group from CBRE, the commercial real estate services and investment firm, which had organised a team viewing of the England-Mexico game.People gather outside Dot Cod in Hong Kong’s Central district during England’s World Cup match against Mexico on July 6, 2026. Photo: Veronica QiDane Moodie, wearing an England jersey, says his group had deliberately scouted venues before settling on the Central restaurant.