England's World Cup Round of 16 knockout match against Mexico will go ahead at its originally scheduled time of 1:00am (BST) on Monday morning (6:00pm local time on Sunday), after FIFA abandoned a sudden plan to bring the match forward by six hours.
FIFA's U-turn on kick-off time
FIFA had seriously considered rescheduling the match to a midday local kick-off (7:00pm Sunday BST) due to forecasts of adverse weather conditions in Mexico City, specifically the threat of electrical thunderstorms and flooding around the Estadio Azteca later in the day. However, the governing body eventually backtracked on the proposal.
According to The Athletic, FIFA's primary reason for considering the change centred around concerns for supporter safety, with weather being an additional driver of the talks. Both the English Football Association (FA) and the Mexican Football Federation were reportedly blindsided by the news, with FA officials finding out via social media rather than official channels.
Reaction from managers and players
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre fiercely criticised the proposed shift, calling it "a kick in the gut" that would severely disrupt player preparation, nutrition, sleeping schedules, and vital training plans. England forward Marcus Rashford described the initial change as "not ideal," acknowledging it would impact preparation but challenging the squad to remain ready.
Moving the match would have disrupted England's altitude acclimatisation and deeply affected travelling supporters, some of whom were scheduled to land in Mexico City just hours before the proposed lunchtime slot.
Weather forecast and match status
On Saturday, a new update emerged indicating a 90 per cent chance of lightning around the Azteca on Sunday at 12pm local time. While the kick-off won't come forward by six hours, it may still be affected by weather conditions. FIFA met with local organisers to discuss potential disruption.
The BBC has insisted they had no input in FIFA's kick-off time deliberations. In the fallout, a Spanish-speaking outlet accused the BBC of having a role in the proposed change, but a BBC spokesperson stated they "were not involved in these discussions."
Government response
Because the match remains in the late-night 1:00am kick-off slot, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has authorised UK pubs to remain open until 5:00 AM, promising a significant financial boost for the hospitality industry.
