England’s World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico will kick off at 1am BST on Monday as originally scheduled, after a chaotic day of Fifa U-turns that left players, fans and officials scrambling for clarity. Football’s world governing body had proposed moving the game forward by six hours – to 7pm BST on Sunday – citing weather forecasts that suggested thunderstorms could hit Mexico City. But news of the plan leaked in Mexico on Friday afternoon, triggering fury from both camps.
Javier Aguirre, the Mexico manager, went public with his anger before the change was even confirmed. “The schedule change hits like a kick in the stomach,” he said. “We have to change the entire plan. I don’t like it at all.” The English FA were equally stunned, having first learned of the proposal via media reports as players finished training in Kansas City. Officials were privately incensed at being left in the dark, sources said.
“England's World Cup last-16 tie against Mexico stays at 1am BST after Fifa U-turn on thunderstorm fears.”
Fifa had been set to reschedule the fixture and issue a statement, but backlash from both FAs forced a rethink. The FA requested time to review the weather forecast in more detail. Concerns over player preparation, fan travel and the logistics of moving a match involving more than 50,000 people were also discussed. Commercial and broadcasting factors played a role: Brazil and Norway kick off at 9pm BST on Sunday, raising the prospect of a clash if England-Mexico went to extra time. Ultimately, Fifa decided to keep the status quo.
The confusion came days after four people died following Mexico’s last-32 win over Ecuador – a game delayed by an hour due to a vicious electric storm. The threat of further storms this weekend had prompted the proposed move, but Fifa did not provide any explanation for its suggested change. The match will now go ahead at the Azteca Stadium at 6pm local time, broadcast live on BBC TV, iPlayer and 5 Live.
With the UK kick-off at 1am, the government has granted pubs permission to stay open until 5am – a move that has drawn criticism from police chiefs, who slammed the late announcement. Some pub landlords have refused to open, with Tommy Higgs, co-owner of The Three Horseshoes in Witney, saying: “No one’s going to want to work until five in the morning. We’re not a nightclub.”
Thomas Tuchel, the England manager, has called on parents to let children stay up to watch. “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football,” he said. “The World Cup is every four years.” Several schools have responded by allowing pupils to come in late on Monday, and the National Education Union has backed the move, with general secretary Daniel Kebede calling the match an “important event in our calendar.” Despite the late finish, the government has ruled out an extra bank holiday.
The storm threat has not dissipated, leaving open the possibility of a delayed kick-off similar to Mexico’s previous match. For now, fans in England face a long night – and an even longer school run.