FIFA Backtracks on England vs Mexico World Cup 2026 Kick-Off at Azteca Stadium

England’s World Cup 2026 last-16 tie with Mexico will kick off at 01:00 BST (18:00 local time) on Monday at the Azteca Stadium, after FIFA backtracked on a plan to move the start by six hours to avoid predicted thunderstorms in Mexico City.

Sky Sports News said FIFA would meet local organisers in Mexico City on Saturday to discuss possible disruptions, while FIFA sources told Sky Sports News that no decision was ever taken to move the game.

BBC

The BBC reported that sources had told BBC Sport on Friday the fixture was set to be moved to 19:00 BST on Sunday, but within hours FIFA decided against the change and the match was announced to go ahead as originally planned.

The BBC also noted that the Football Association had been involved in planning and security discussions after four people died following Mexico's last-32 victory over Ecuador in Mexico City on Tuesday.

Sky Sports added that official tournament weather reports for the Azteca Stadium suggested a 90 per cent risk of lightning storms around kick-off and said match officials should maintain readiness for lightning safety procedures.

The proposed time change triggered anger from the English and Mexican FAs, and The Independent said FIFA backtracked after the English and Mexican FAs learned of the proposed change without being consulted first.

Mexico boss Javier Aguirre lashed out at FIFA for their lack of consultation in an interview with Joaquin Lopez Doriga on Radio Formula, saying, “It’s like a kick in the gut, it changes everything, the plan.”

BBC

The Guardian described the confusion as farcical, quoting Aguirre’s criticism: “The schedule change hits like a kick in the stomach,” as the Mexico manager went public about a decision that was never confirmed.

In the England camp, Marcus Rashford told reporters that the situation was “not ideal” but said, “We have to be focused. We have to be ready for anything.”

Morgan Rogers echoed that approach by saying, “We’ll be ready regardless of the time,” as England prepared to play at altitude in Mexico City.

With the kick-off fixed at 01:00 BST on Monday, the BBC said businesses, schools and the emergency services in the UK were continuing to prepare for knock-on effects, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said pubs would be able to stay open until 05:00.

“- Published England's early morning World Cup match against Mexico will kick off as originally planned at 01:00 BST (18:00 local time) on Monday, after Fifa U-turned on a plan to bring it forward by six hours”

BBC

Sky Sports reported that England received a hostile welcome at their Mexico City hotel, where security has been heightened, after hundreds of fans gathered and many booed while others chanted “Mexico”.

BBC coverage also said more than 3,000 England fans are set to attend the fixture at the Azteca, and it quoted Owen Pickering saying it was “lucky it all changed” after he described how a moved kick-off would have meant he and his group would have missed the match.

The BBC added that Greene King said more than 600 pubs across England would be staying open late to show the match, while Wetherspoons said only five of its more than 800 pubs would remain open for the match.

Sky Sports noted that FIFA rules say any lightning within a six-mile radius of the stadium will lead to an immediate postponement for safety, and only once there is a 30-minute clear window with no lightning will a match be allowed to go ahead.