England’s last-16 World Cup match against Mexico will kick off at 01:00 BST on Monday after Fifa performed a dramatic U-turn on proposals to bring the game forward by six hours. Sources had told BBC Sport on Friday the fixture at Mexico City Stadium was set to move to 19:00 BST on Sunday – but within hours football’s governing body decided against it, leaving the original schedule intact.
The late reversal prompted criticism from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which said the government’s “late announcement” allowing pubs to stay open until 05:00 meant officers would have to be taken away from other duties and work longer hours. “The team’s likely route through the tournament has been known for a considerable time,” the policing body said, asking fans to “drink within sensible limits”. A Downing Street spokeswoman countered that the government had “announced plans as quickly as possible following this” after England’s progression was confirmed.
“Fifa reversed a plan to move England's World Cup match earlier, sparking police criticism and fan relief.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had announced the extended licensing hours on Thursday. Local Government Secretary Steve Reed described it as “one of the fastest changes in the law that we’ve seen”. The hospitality sector welcomed the move, with Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, saying: “We all know…”
For travelling fans, the U-turn was a relief. Owen Pickering, who is flying to Mexico with his sons aged seven, 16 and 23, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme it was “lucky it all changed”. If the kick-off had moved to 12:00 local time, he said they “wouldn’t have made the match”. Pickering spent £1,300 on flights and paid £160 for his children to miss school, adding: “The whole thing has been very expensive.”
The proposed rescheduling had been driven by fears of thunderstorms and heavy rain around the Azteca Stadium. Weather forecasts show a 71% chance of rain at 7pm local time, with an 80% risk of thunderstorms in the hours before kick-off. The Azteca’s canopy covers only about 80% of seats, leaving the pitch exposed. Under tournament safety rules, any lightning strike detected within eight miles triggers an automatic 30-minute delay – a scenario that could push the final whistle well past 4am UK time.
Mexico’s head coach, Javier Aguirre, slammed the proposal, saying it was “like a kick in the gut” and that he was “quite angry” at not being consulted. “Today, 60 people are working here so that these 26 friends can go out on Sunday and win the game,” he said. “The change is quite important and yes, I’m quite angry.”
Meanwhile, in London, Egyptian fans clashed with police in Edgware Road after their team beat Australia 4-2 on penalties. Officers were filmed wrestling fans as crowds filled the streets, with supporters climbing double-decker buses and waving flags.
As the nation prepares for the early-morning kick-off, animal welfare groups have also warned about the impact on pets. PDSA notes that dogs can hear a much broader range of frequencies than humans, and the sudden noise of televisions, shouting and door slamming could trigger noise phobias. Dogs Trust advises that younger dogs may be more at risk, and owners should contact their vet if they notice signs of fear.