The World Cup last-32 tie between England and Mexico was plunged into chaos on Friday night as lightning and thunderstorms hit Mexico City, forcing a delayed kick-off. The sudden severe weather sparked rumours of a major schedule change, causing frustration for both football associations. England's squad boarded their afternoon flight from Kansas City without any concrete official confirmation of when they would play, the Mirror reported. Just ahead of midnight on Friday, FIFA officially ended the speculation, insisting no scheduling change would occur, though informal discussions had taken place.
When the match finally got under way, England triumphed 3-2 in a breathless classic, setting up a quarter-final date with Norway. Jude Bellingham scored two first-half goals to put the Three Lions on their way. Jordan Henderson suffered a huge injury blow during the celebrations, tripping over the advertising hoardings and needing a stretcher.
“England vs Mexico World Cup last-32 tie was delayed by lightning and thunderstorms before England won 3-2.”
Fans back home can watch highlights this morning. The BBC is running a no-spoiler re-run on BBC Two from 7:10am, called 'Stay Up or Catch Up'. A full match replay is available on BBC iPlayer from 6am UK time. Viewers can choose between a short highlight reel and a full replay; the Standard warned that an unusually long runtime can act as a spoiler if the game went to extra time.
After the win, Bellingham implored supporters to text their bosses and pour another shot, celebrating a historic victory over the co-hosts in their own backyard.