England vs Mexico to kick off at 1am BST after FIFA abandons six-hour schedule change

England’s last-16 World Cup clash with Mexico will kick off at 1:00am BST on Monday morning (6:00pm local time Sunday) at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, after FIFA reversed a proposal to bring the match forward by six hours to a midday local start.

The governing body had seriously considered shifting the fixture to 7:00am local time — 12:00pm local, 7:00pm BST on Sunday — primarily over safety concerns for supporters, with forecasts of electrical thunderstorms and flooding around the stadium cited as an additional factor. FIFA ultimately backed away from the plan, though a further update on Saturday indicated the governing body would meet with local organisers to discuss potential disruption, with a 90 per cent chance of lightning around the Azteca at 12pm local time on Sunday.

Both the English Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation were reportedly caught off guard by the proposed change, with FA officials said to have learned of the secretive discussions through social media rather than through official channels. Mexico manager Javier Aguirre was particularly vocal in his opposition, calling the prospect “a kick in the gut” and warning that a sudden schedule shift would severely disrupt player nutrition, sleeping routines, and training plans.

England forward Marcus Rashford described the initial reports of a time change as “not ideal”, acknowledging the impact on player preparation while insisting the squad would be ready regardless.

Travelling England supporters also faced significant disruption under the proposed plan, with some fans scheduled to land in Mexico City just hours before the suggested lunchtime kick-off. The BBC, meanwhile, was forced to deny any involvement after a Spanish-language outlet suggested the broadcaster had influenced the push to move the match. A BBC spokesperson stated the corporation “was not involved in these discussions”.

With the fixture locked into its original late-night slot, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has authorised UK pubs to remain open until 5:00am, a measure expected to deliver a substantial boost to the hospitality sector.