FIFA Considers Moving England vs Mexico Kickoff Earlier at Estadio Azteca

FIFA is considering bringing forward the kickoff time of England’s World Cup round-of-16 game against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City because of the risk of weather disruption including flooding and thunderstorms.

The match was originally scheduled to start at 6pm local time (1am BST), but multiple reports said it could be brought forward by six hours to midday local time (7pm BST), with ESPN describing the discussions as ongoing and tied to player and spectator safety.

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The potential change has been framed against prior disruptions in the tournament, including Mexico’s round-of-32 match against Ecuador at the Azteca being delayed by an hour due to lightning strikes in the area.

FIFA’s regulations cited in the coverage state it has the right to “cancel, reschedule or relocate” matches “at its sole discretion,” including for “health, safety or security concerns.”

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre criticised the potential change, telling Radio Formula, “The schedule change hits like a kick in the stomach. We have to change the entire plan. I don’t like it at all.”

The dispute has also been described as involving frustration from both teams after the plan emerged through media rather than consultation, with The Guardian saying the governing body had “no heads-up about the plan and learned of it through the media.”

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England players responded by emphasizing readiness regardless of timing, with Marcus Rashford saying, “It’s not ideal but also it doesn’t really matter.”

Morgan Rogers similarly said, “We’ll be ready regardless of the time,” and added that “The earlier the better because you want to play.”

The coverage also tied the timing question to knock-on effects for other matches, including the Brazil and Norway game that was described as potentially needing a schedule adjustment if FIFA changes the England-Mexico kickoff.

The uncertainty over the revised schedule shifted when El País reported that FIFA confirmed the Mexico–England match changes time and “will be played at noon.”

“The match between Mexico and England, part of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Round of 16, could shift its kickoff time due to weather conditions, as some Mexican outlets such as TUDN and Claro Sports have stated”

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El País said the initial kickoff was scheduled for 18:00 but was moved due to the threat of a thunderstorm, and it also stated that the Brazil–Norway match would be rescheduled and played one hour later than planned.

In the same El País account, FIFA’s round-of-16 match at the Azteca was described as originally set for 18:00 after the group draw held last December, with the move tied to weather forecasts and also “security reasons related to possible celebrations.”

The reporting also described the Brazil–Norway reschedule in time terms, saying it moves from 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time to 5:00 p.m.

With the England-Mexico kickoff set for noon local time, the coverage placed the change in the context of FIFA’s broader authority to adjust match schedules for weather and safety concerns under its tournament rules.