England’s last-16 World Cup clash with Mexico was originally scheduled to kick off at 1am BST on Monday morning. But after forecasts warned of severe tropical storms and lightning in Mexico City, reports emerged that Fifa was considering moving the match forward by six hours, to 7pm BST on Sunday evening. The change, which has been widely reported as likely, highlights how weather can force major tournament organisers to rewrite the schedule at short notice.
Under tournament safety rules, any lightning strike detected within eight miles of a stadium triggers an automatic 30-minute delay to play. That rule has already caused disruption at the 2026 World Cup: France’s group-stage match against Iraq was delayed, and Mexico’s own previous game against Ecuador was pushed back by an hour because of storms. With the England match at the Estadio Azteca facing a similar threat, Fifa officials decided to act. The governing body’s regulations state that it has the right to “cancel, reschedule or relocate” matches “at its sole discretion”, including for health, safety or security reasons.
“Why World Cup matches can be moved due to storms, explained through England vs Mexico.”
This isn’t the first time weather has reshaped a World Cup schedule. In previous tournaments, matches have been moved or delayed due to extreme heat, heavy rain, or even sandstorms. But the specific risk of lightning – and the strict automatic delay trigger – makes it a particularly acute issue in regions prone to thunderstorms, such as Mexico City during its rainy season.
For UK fans, the change would be a massive relief. A 7pm kick-off on Sunday is far more family-friendly than a 1am start on Monday. The government had already relaxed licensing laws to allow pubs to stay open until 5am for the match, but many pubs – including all but five Wetherspoons branches – said they wouldn’t use the extended hours anyway. Some schools announced they would let pupils arrive late on Monday morning, and the National Education Union supported the idea. Manager Thomas Tuchel even encouraged parents to let children stay up to watch, saying “the World Cup is every four years”. However, the government ruled out giving workers an extra bank holiday to recover.
For Fifa, moving the England match creates a scheduling headache. The last-16 tie between Brazil and Norway was originally set for 9pm BST on the same evening. To avoid the two games overlapping – something Fifa normally prevents except in the final round of group matches – reports suggest Brazil v Norway will also be shifted, to 10pm BST.
Q: Why was the England vs Mexico kick-off time changed? A: Severe storms and lightning were forecast for the original 1am BST slot. Under tournament safety rules, any lightning within eight miles of the stadium forces a 30-minute delay. To avoid disruption, Fifa moved the match to 7pm BST, when the weather is predicted to be clear.
Q: Can Fifa reschedule matches for weather? A: Yes. Fifa’s regulations give it the right to “cancel, reschedule or relocate” matches at its sole discretion if there are health, safety or security concerns, including weather-related risks. This happened earlier in the tournament when Mexico’s match against Ecuador was delayed due to rain.
Q: What happens if lightning strikes near a World Cup stadium? A: Play is automatically suspended for at least 30 minutes each time a strike is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium. The clock resets with each new strike, which can cause lengthy delays. France’s group-stage match against Iraq was affected by this rule.
What happens next? Fifa has not yet officially confirmed the new kick-off time, but sources say the decision is expected imminently. The Brazil vs Norway match is also likely to be moved to avoid a clash. Fans should check official updates from the BBC and Fifa for the final schedule.