Mexico vs England World Cup kick-off could shift six hours with under 48 hours' notice

England’s World Cup round of 16 match against co-hosts Mexico in Mexico City could be moved six hours earlier than planned, with FIFA yet to confirm a rescheduling that would need to take effect in under 48 hours.

The fixture is currently scheduled to kick off at 6:00pm local time on Sunday — 1:00am Monday in British Summer Time — but Mexican broadcaster Claro Sports has reported that FIFA and local authorities are considering moving it to 12:00pm Central Time to avoid forecast thunderstorms. That change would shift the UK kick-off to 7:00pm.

“The match will now be played at 12:00pm Central Time (Mexico), instead of 6:00pm as originally planned,” Claro Sports reported. “This is due to the National Meteorological Service’s forecast of thunderstorms in Mexico City on Sunday.”

FIFA has the authority to reschedule World Cup fixtures but has not yet issued a formal confirmation of the change.

The late-night scheduling had already drawn attention before the weather concerns emerged, with England manager Thomas Tuchel publicly asking parents to let their children stay up to watch. A move to a 7:00pm UK kick-off would resolve that issue for home viewers, but would create significant logistical challenges for supporters who have already made travel arrangements to attend in person.

Both squads would also be affected. Claro Sports noted that the change “would affect the plans of both teams, as they would also have to modify their activities already planned for Saturday, the day before the match, as well as their training sessions and travel arrangements.”

The situation is not without precedent at this tournament. Mexico’s group-stage match against Ecuador at the Azteca Stadium last Sunday was delayed by an hour due to an electrical storm before Javier Aguirre’s side secured a 2-0 victory.

England have already been managing the challenge of playing at altitude, having prioritised recovery time at their base in Kansas City over extended acclimatisation in Mexico City. A six-hour reduction in preparation time is unlikely to significantly worsen that existing disadvantage, though the organisational demands on both camps over the coming days will be considerable.

A rescheduled kick-off would also overlap with the round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway, currently set for 9:00pm UK time in New Jersey — a fixture that could itself be subject to schedule adjustments.