England’s Mexico kick-off stays at 1am despite weather concerns

England’s last-16 World Cup match against Mexico will go ahead at 1am UK time on Monday, keeping the original schedule in place. A possible six-hour move was discussed because of expected bad weather in Mexico City, but no change has been made.

The uncertainty followed reports that FIFA was considering an earlier kick-off, which would have meant 7pm Sunday in the UK and midday locally. That option may have suited many viewers in Britain, but it also raised preparation and travel issues for the teams and supporters heading to the Azteca Stadium.

Sky Sports reported that FIFA sources said no decision to move the fixture had been taken, while the weather situation will continue to be watched. Local reporting also indicated concern from the Mexican FA about the possibility of altering the match time.

For England, the message from the squad was one of flexibility, with Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford both stressing readiness for whatever schedule emerged. The late-night timing remains awkward for UK fans, although pubs and bars have been cleared to stay open until 5am on Monday for the match.