Jude Bellingham Urges England Fans to Skip Work and School After Dramatic World Cup Win

Jude Bellingham emerged as the hero for England by scoring twice in a thrilling 3-2 victory over Mexico, securing England's place in the World Cup quarterfinals. The match, held at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms and lightning risks, starting at 2:00 AM British time and ending after 4:00 AM following an 11-minute stoppage time. England played much of the second half with ten men after Jeriel Kavanagh was sent off following a VAR review.

After the late-night win, Bellingham humorously urged fans to take the day off work and school to celebrate, saying, "Kids, don’t go to school. Parents, don’t go to work. Enjoy your day, take a day off if you can. Nights like these don’t come often." Across England, hundreds of pubs and bars were packed with fans, with the government extending operating hours until 5:00 AM to accommodate celebrations.

However, Early Childhood Education Minister Olivia Bailey advised against following Bellingham’s playful suggestion, encouraging children to attend school despite tiredness, emphasizing the importance of learning to cope with such days. The victory also drew praise from public figures including Prince William, who congratulated the team on social media, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called the match one of the greatest England games he had witnessed.

England now faces Norway in the World Cup quarterfinals on Saturday, after Norway eliminated Brazil with a 2-1 win, setting up a challenging next round for the Three Lions.