A World Cup last-16 tie between England and Mexico was abruptly moved forward by six hours after thunderstorms and heavy rain were forecast to hit Mexico City. The game at the iconic Estadio Azteca had been scheduled to kick off at 6pm local time (1am BST on Monday), but was rescheduled to midday local time (7pm BST on Sunday) after Fifa invoked its power to alter fixtures for safety reasons. The change, confirmed just two days before the match, stunned both the Football Association and Mexico's FA, who learned of it through the media. England winger Marcus Rashford called the disruption "not ideal" but said the squad would adapt.
Fifa's regulations for the 2026 World Cup give it the right to "cancel, reschedule or relocate" matches "at its sole discretion". The move was prompted by forecasts of thunderstorms and heavy rain around the original kick-off time, with almost 5mm of rain predicted over the Azteca. Under tournament safety rules, any lightning strike detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium triggers an automatic 30-minute delay. Similar weather had already disrupted other games: France's group-stage match against Iraq in Philadelphia was delayed by more than two hours due to thunderstorms, and the Guardian reported that the decision to move England's game was informed by learnings from the 2023 Club World Cup, which saw six major delays in 63 matches.
“Explains why England vs Mexico was moved from 1am to 7pm BST due to thunderstorms, and how match rescheduling works in major tournaments.”
The late switch created logistical headaches. The FA had been planning as normal on Friday, with officials involved in security discussions. England fans who had planned to travel to Mexico City on Sunday morning faced disrupted itineraries. There were also concerns about Mexico City's notoriously poor air quality, which tends to be worse at midday. The projected temperature at midday was 21°C, compared to 16°C by 7pm. The altitude of the Azteca—7,220 feet above sea level—already posed a challenge for England players, who had been preparing for the thinner air and increased fatigue. A midday kick-off meant higher temperatures, potentially adding to physical strain.
The build-up to the match had been dominated by Mexico's formidable home record: they have lost just twice in 89 games at the Azteca. England's players had been using sleep devices and training at a secret location to combat noise from Mexican fans. The rescheduling also clashed with earlier UK government plans: Prime Minister Keir Starmer had relaxed alcohol licensing laws to allow pubs in England and Wales to stay open until 5am for overnight fixtures. With the new 7pm UK time kick-off, those extended hours were no longer necessary.
Q: What powers does Fifa have to change match times? Fifa's World Cup regulations allow it to "cancel, reschedule or relocate" matches at its sole discretion, usually for safety or operational reasons. In this case, the risk of thunderstorms and lightning triggered the change.
Q: Why was the England vs Mexico game moved? Weather forecasts showed a high probability of thunderstorms and heavy rain in Mexico City at the original 6pm local time kick-off. Under safety rules, lightning within eight miles of the stadium would cause automatic 30-minute delays, risking a late-night finish. Fifa moved the game to midday local time to avoid the storm window.
Q: How does this affect England fans and players? Fans who had booked travel for the original late-night kick-off had to adjust plans, while the earlier time meant higher temperatures and potentially worse air quality in Mexico City. Players had prepared for an evening game but insisted they could adapt—Marcus Rashford said the squad was "ready for anything."
What happens next is uncertain. Fifa has not confirmed whether the change is final, though local media and broadcasters indicated it was likely. The FA and Mexico's FA were still seeking clarity on Friday. England's training schedule was unaffected: they flew to Mexico City on Friday afternoon to train at the Azteca on Saturday, as originally planned. The match will be broadcast live on BBC TV, iPlayer, Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website and app.