England's last-16 World Cup match against Mexico will kick off at 1am on Monday after all, following a dramatic Fifa U-turn that sparked frantic talks between the governing body and both countries' football associations. Fifa had been set to move the showdown six hours earlier – to 7pm UK time on Sunday – after forecasts of severe thunderstorms and flooding in Mexico City. But anger from the English and Mexican FAs, who were not consulted before the proposed change, forced Fifa to backtrack. Sources close to the governing body told The Independent that no official decision was ever made to reschedule, and the game will now start at 6pm local time at the Azteca stadium – 1am BST on Monday.
The Azteca, which does not have a full roof over the pitch, faces a 69% chance of rain at kick-off, rising to 70% an hour later, with the risk of thunderstorms estimated at 80% in the three-hour window before the game. Under tournament safety rules, any lightning strikes detected within eight miles of the stadium trigger an automatic 30-minute delay. The weather had already disrupted France's earlier group matches, and media in Mexico initially reported the game would be brought forward to avoid the storms.
“Fifa reverses plan to move England v Mexico kick-off after storm fears, with pubs allowed to open until 5am”
On the pitch, England manager Thomas Tuchel faces a right-back selection crisis. Reece James missed the final training session in Mexico City and has not trained fully with the squad since suffering a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the goalless draw with Ghana. The Football Association said the 26-year-old Chelsea defender was following his own individual programme away from the training field. Tuchel told the media on Saturday that James would need a late assessment to decide if he was fit enough for the substitutes' bench. There was better news for Jarell Quansah, who has returned to full training after a hamstring injury sustained in the draw with Panama, easing Tuchel's concerns at right-back. Djed Spence started there against DR Congo, but midfielder Declan Rice – carrying a hamstring issue himself – finished that match in the position and is set to be available.
For fans back home, the 1am kick-off has prompted the government to relax pub licensing laws. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that pubs across England and Wales can stay open until 5am for the match, without needing individual applications. "Football might be coming home, but we're making sure fans don't have to. Pubs staying open till the final whistle is good news for supporters and good news for the pubs and venues that bring our communities together," Starmer said, adding: "The whole country will be backing the team. Come on England!" Despite the blanket extension, many pubs are expected to remain shut. Wetherspoons confirmed only five of its 800 pubs will open, while Greene King said more than 600 of its 2,600 venues would screen the game. Tommy Higgs, co-owner of The Three Horseshoes in Witney, Oxfordshire, told LBC he would not open, citing staffing difficulties and proximity to residential areas.
As England fans prepare for a sleepless night, the team must overcome not only Mexico's stunning competitive record at the Azteca – 70 wins in 89 games, with just two defeats – but also the altitude of 7,220ft above sea level. Road closures and 500 police were used in an attempt to minimise disruption at England's hotel on Saturday night, adding to the sense of a nation holding its breath.