England's Mexico clash delayed to 2am UK time as lightning forces hour-long postponement

England’s World Cup round of 16 tie against Mexico was delayed by an hour on Monday after lightning in the vicinity of Mexico City’s stadium forced FIFA to invoke its thunderstorm protocol, pushing kick-off back to 7pm local time — 2am in the UK.

The match had been scheduled to begin at 6pm local time (1am UK), but with lightning detected in the area less than an hour before kick-off, the stadium activated its safety procedures. FIFA confirmed the delay in a statement, citing “adverse weather conditions in Mexico City, including risk caused by lightning in the vicinity of the stadium.” The governing body added that it was adhering to rules set by local authorities, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stipulating that any lightning strike detected within eight miles of a stadium requires play to be halted or postponed.

“The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority,” the statement read. “We thank all fans for their understanding and cooperation.”

The delay has created a logistical headache for pubs across England and Wales, which had been granted an extended closing time of 5am on Monday by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The match was originally expected to finish at around 3am, but a further delay risks pushing the final whistle dangerously close to — or beyond — that cut-off, potentially forcing landlords to eject fans before the game is over.

Ally Wolf, general manager at the Clapham Grand, struck a defiant tone. “We’re going to put all of our trust in the Mexican weather,” he told The Independent. “Failing that we’re going to put all of our trust in Keir Starmer that he’s so desperate to end on such a high that he personally is going to make a few phone calls and authorise all of us to continue to stay open until our wonderful football team bring it home.”

At Wembley Boxpark in north-west London, fans said they had no intention of leaving regardless of further delays. Kieran, 23, a finance assistant from Essex, acknowledged the frustration but saw a silver lining for Gareth Southgate’s side. “I think it’s annoying for England fans here but it’s probably beneficial for the England team,” he said. “I will stay the whole time even if it’s delayed.”

Killey Harvey, a 49-year-old charity worker from west London, said he would also remain despite having work at 10am on Monday. “I will stay because I want to see them play. I’m here to enjoy the match,” he said, though he added that the late scheduling had drawn criticism from local police due to the additional disorder risks it carries.

Licensing hours in England and Wales had already been extended for the tournament — from 11pm to 1am for games kicking off between 5pm and 9pm, and until 2am for kick-offs between 9pm and 10pm — before Starmer’s further extension to 5am specifically for Monday’s fixture.