Kickoff Time for England-Mexico Match Remains Unchanged Amid Weather Concerns
England’s World Cup last-16 match against Mexico is still scheduled to kick off at 1 a.m. on Monday, despite initial reports suggesting a potential time change. Local weather forecasts indicate thunderstorms may impact conditions in Mexico City during kickoff.
On Friday at around 8 p.m. UK time, sources revealed FIFA was considering moving the match start six hours earlier, sparking discussions with the football associations of both England and Mexico. The revised kickoff time would have been 7 p.m. UK time on Sunday, or noon local time in Mexico.
Timeline of Kickoff Confusion
Rumors intensified around 7 p.m. UK time when reports from Mexico suggested the match’s start time would be advanced due to severe weather warnings. Initially, the English FA was unaware of these developments, leading England midfielder Morgan Rodgers to express that an early kickoff would benefit the team. The England squad departed Kansas City without a clear kickoff time. By 9 p.m. UK time, FIFA confirmed they were actively discussing the potential change. However, reports began to surface around 11 p.m. UK time indicating that the original schedule would remain intact. Just before midnight, FIFA officially stated that the game would proceed at the initially scheduled time, asserting that no decision had been made to alter the kickoff.
Late Friday night, local media reported that the Mexican Football Association had raised concerns about the proposed time change. Sky Sports News later confirmed that the kickoff would remain as originally planned, while FIFA announced a meeting with local organizers in Mexico City on Saturday to discuss the possibility of rescheduling, given ongoing concerns regarding thunderstorms.
Potential for Thunderstorms to Disrupt the Match
According to an official weather forecast for the Azteca Stadium, shared with FIFA, there remains a high probability—90 percent—of thunderstorms occurring around the scheduled kickoff. Reports indicate that the match officials should brace for possible lightning, and the risk of disruption is classified as “medium to high.” Under FIFA regulations, if lightning is detected within a six-mile radius of the stadium, the match would be immediately postponed, regardless of the current status of play.
This isn’t the first instance of weather-related disruptions; England’s recent warm-up match against Costa Rica was delayed by an hour due to rain. Moreover, severe weather has previously affected other significant fixtures, such as the Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Benfica, which was postponed by over two hours.
Reactions from England Players
The England squad arrived in Mexico on Friday without a clear resolution on the kickoff issue. Midfielder Morgan Rodgers stated his readiness to play regardless of the time, while teammate Marcus Rashford emphasized the importance of being prepared for any unknowns. “We have to be focused. We can handle anything that comes our way,” he noted.
This complicated scheduling hasn’t gone unnoticed by supporters back in the UK. Following England’s victory over the Democratic Republic of the Congo, coach Thomas Tuchel made a lighthearted comment encouraging parents to allow their children to experience the match: “Write your excuse to school and let them watch football,” he said. In response to the significance of the match, the British government announced that pubs and bars could extend their hours until 5 a.m. on Monday to accommodate fans eager to support their team.
