Starmer blocked FIFA's kick-off change to protect England from Mexico altitude disadvantage

Keir Starmer ordered a diplomatic intervention to stop FIFA bringing forward England’s World Cup Round of 16 kick-off against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, over concerns the change would give co-hosts Mexico an unfair altitude advantage over Thomas Tuchel’s side.

The UK Government moved to block a proposed shift of the fixture from 1am BST to 7pm BST, which would have significantly reduced England’s acclimatisation time at altitude. Starmer acted after being alerted to the issue by the Football Association, which contacted Downing Street ahead of the match.

In the end, the game kicked off even later than originally scheduled. A thunderstorm protocol triggered by lightning in the vicinity of the stadium delayed proceedings, and the match eventually began at 2am UK time — an hour behind the original plan.

England made the late night worthwhile, beating Mexico 3-2 in one of the most dramatic performances of the Tuchel era. Jude Bellingham scored a quickfire brace and Harry Kane converted a penalty, while 10-man England — reduced after Jarell Quansah’s red card — held on through dogged defending to seal the win.

The result books a quarter-final meeting with Norway in Miami this Saturday, leaving England three victories away from a first World Cup triumph since Sir Alf Ramsey’s side in 1966.

Tuchel said the victory reinforced his belief that England can win the tournament, though he also voiced concern about what he described as the potential for “erratic” officiating to cost his side in the knockout rounds.

Starmer’s involvement in the tournament has extended beyond the diplomatic sphere. The outgoing Prime Minister also pushed through emergency legislation last week to allow pubs to stay open late for the Round of 16 tie.