England’s World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico will kick off at the originally planned time of 18:00 local time on Sunday, which is 01:00 BST on Monday. FIFA had considered moving the match six hours earlier, but the plan was dropped after talks and pushback from both national associations.
The proposed change appeared to be linked to forecasts of thunderstorms around Mexico City, with concerns over lightning, heavy rain and possible disruption at the Azteca. Reports from Mexican media first brought the issue into public view before England’s FA was formally drawn into discussions.
The late timing of the proposal caused major frustration because it would have affected team preparation, stadium operations and supporter travel. England’s travelling allocation of 3,000 tickets had already sold out, and some fans’ flight plans were built around the evening kick-off.
For UK viewers, the decision means the match remains a late-night watch on BBC One and iPlayer. The episode leaves a wider question for tournament organisers: how should weather risks be managed without creating last-minute uncertainty for teams and fans?
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