England's World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico has been delayed by at least an hour after severe thunderstorms swept across Mexico City. The match, originally scheduled for 1am BST (6pm local time), has been pushed back until at least 2am BST, with officials set to reassess conditions. If still unsafe, further 30-minute delays may be implemented.
BBC Announcement
Announcing the delay live on the BBC, presenter Kelly Cates interrupted pundit Wayne Rooney to say: "We have breaking news, which is that kick-off - having told you about 30 seconds ago it was about to get underway as planned - looks like it's going to be delayed by an hour."
Safety Protocol Triggered
The Azteca Stadium's electrical storm safety protocol was triggered by thunder, lightning, and torrential rain three hours before kick-off. Under these rules, access to the pitch was suspended, and supporters were prevented from entering the stadium. Media representatives were ordered to stay inside until conditions improved. The arrival of both teams was also delayed, with those inside describing the thunder as "deafening."
Impact on Fans and Teams
The delay disrupts both teams' preparations and means a long night for fans in England, with the match possibly not finishing until after 4am BST. Earlier in the week, discussions had taken place about moving the fixture to midday local time due to forecasts of severe weather. Concerns also extended to security issues after a crowd crush following Mexico's victory over Ecuador, which killed four people. Senior Mexican officials approached FIFA to discuss moving the kick-off to reduce the risk of a repeat, but the Football Association resisted due to disruption to England supporters' travel plans. The Mexican Football Federation also opposed the change.
Weather Update
BBC meteorologist Tomasz Schafernaker said: "Thunderstorms and shower clouds have been developing around Mexico City in the last few hours. The showers are likely to continue to grow, threatening disruption. All eyes on the horizon and fingers crossed the storms stay well away, but it's a close call. Any storms are likely to linger for hours."
