Mexico travel mistake could see England fans fined $12,500 and risk jail ahead of Azteca showdown

After a scrappy win over DR Congo, England are heading to Mexico City to face one of the three host nations in what promises to be an electrifying round of 16 match.

While most of us will be waking up in the dead of night to tune in - or partying at the local boozer thanks to Keir Starmer keeping the pubs open all night - some lucky fans will be travelling to watch the match at the Azteca Stadium, the largest stadium in Latin America and a footballing fortress for the hosts.

So if you are packing your bags and heading to Mexico, it's time to brush up on your knowledge of the city to make sure you don't find yourself in trouble – and no, we're not talking about the change in altitude.

The Three Lions will be playing against Mexico at the Azteca Stadium (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

What are the laws around vaping in Mexico?

Unlike the UK, where the laws around vaping in public are relatively relaxed, it's a lot stricter in the Central American nation.

While vaping itself is not illegal, it is heavily restricted, with former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador banning the import and sale of e-cigarettes in 2022. The law was later passed in January 2025.

The law applies to tourists as well, with the Foreign Office warning that it is 'illegal to bring e-cigarettes, vaping devices and solutions into Mexico or to buy and sell them'.

Bringing a vape into the country, either by land, sea or air, is considered an illegal import and could see you slapped with fines and without a vape.

Best to leave these at home... (Getty Stock Images)

"Customs officials will confiscate these items; and they could fine or detain you," the FCDO added.

According to Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs at Northerner, these fines start from $50 to $300 USD (£37-£224) and can reach as high as $12,500 USD, or £9,368 in extreme cases.

Bringing in multiple vapes or extra cartridges carries an even higher risk, as authorities could deem this 'intent to distribute' depending on the amount of vapes in your stash.

If you're found guilty of intent to distribute, you could face a jail sentence of up to eight years.

England are through to the round of 16 (LADbible)

Which is not a cost you want to be paying when travelling to the World Cup is already so expensive.

Vaping in public is also a big no-no, with fines of $150-$200 USD (£112-£149) waiting for anyone who gets caught taking a cheeky puff in public.

This includes beaches, parks, indoor areas and, yes, stadiums.