England vs Mexico World Cup clash at risk from thunderstorms
England's last-16 match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night could be delayed by thunderstorms, with FIFA closely monitoring the weather forecast. The high-profile showdown, scheduled for a 1am BST kick-off in the UK (6pm local time), has already caused confusion after reports that it might be moved earlier due to projected storms.
The game was initially suggested to be brought forward by six hours to a 12pm local time slot, which would have been a more convenient 7pm start for UK fans. However, it later emerged that the match would remain in its original slot, causing anger and confusion among both camps and supporters.
Previous weather disruptions at the World Cup
This is not the first time weather has impacted the tournament. Mexico's 2-0 last-32 win over Ecuador at the same venue on Tuesday was delayed by an hour due to thunder and lightning. Additionally, last weekend's Group I meeting between France and Iraq in Philadelphia was delayed by more than two hours due to storms. England's warm-up friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando last month also saw a one-hour delay to kick-off because of storms and persistent rain.
Weather forecast for Mexico City
The current forecast for Sunday evening in Mexico City indicates cloudy conditions and occasional rain through the morning and afternoon, with a high temperature of around 25 degrees Celsius. Thunderstorms and heavy rain with high humidity are expected to arrive around two hours before kick-off at 4pm local time, continuing through 5pm and potentially settling down around the start time. However, more storms are forecast for approximately 8pm, making delays or suspensions likely.
Extreme weather policy
The policy on extreme weather at this World Cup mirrors that of the Club World Cup in the United States last summer. Delays and suspensions occur if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium. In such cases, players, coaches, and officials must return to dressing rooms, and fans are instructed to evacuate the stands for safe shelter. A 30-minute countdown begins, requiring the area to be completely clear of lightning before the match can proceed. If more lightning is detected during that time, the clock resets until a full half-hour without lightning passes. Players then return for a short warm-up before a resumption time is confirmed.
