Mexico vs England kickoff unchanged after FIFA talks
The Mexico game tomorrow will kick off at 6 p.m. local Sunday at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (1 a.m. BST Monday) after FIFA abandoned a plan to move England's World Cup last-16 clash six hours earlier. Friday talks with the English and Mexican federations left the schedule unchanged, sources told ESPN and The Athletic.
FIFA held emergency discussions with the Football Association and the Mexican Football Federation after reports emerged that the round-of-16 fixture might be brought forward to noon local time. By late Friday, both governing bodies had pushed back, and the kickoff time was confirmed unchanged.
Key Takeaways
- Mexico vs. England stays at 6 p.m. local Sunday (8 p.m. ET; 1 a.m. BST Monday) at Estadio Azteca.
- FIFA explored moving the match six hours earlier because of weather forecasts and fan safety concerns after post-match incidents in Mexico City.
- The English FA and Mexican federation opposed the late change, citing disrupted travel, preparation, and security planning.
- Mexico coach Javier Aguirre publicly criticized the proposal, calling it a kick in the gut for his team's schedule.
- FIFA said no formal decision to reschedule was ever finalized, though storm risk around kickoff remains.
Why did FIFA consider changing the kickoff time?
According to ESPN, fears over adverse weather in the Mexican capital on Sunday evening led the Mexican government to seek an earlier kickoff, specifically at noon. FIFA also wanted to avoid a repeat of Mexico's round-of-32 win over Ecuador at the same venue, when thunderstorms delayed that kickoff by an hour.
The Athletic reported that safety and security concerns for supporters were the primary drivers of the potential change, with weather an additional factor rather than the main one. Meetings accelerated after four people died following Mexico's victory over Ecuador on Tuesday, and organizers worried an evening start could allow a day of drinking to bleed into post-match crowds.
What did England and Mexico officials say about the proposal?
Sources told ESPN that opposition from the Mexican Football Federation and the English FA led FIFA to reject calls to change the kickoff. Both associations pushed back after the idea surfaced with little advance notice, citing logistical hurdles ranging from fan travel to training schedules.
Aguirre told Radio Formula the shift would force his squad to scrap six hours of planned preparation. Rescheduling could also have squeezed England, who were due to arrive late Friday and train Saturday at UNAM Pumas before adapting to Mexico City's altitude. Some English FA staff learned of the possible change through media reports rather than direct FIFA contact, The Athletic reported.
When and where is the Mexico vs England match?
The last-16 tie is set for Estadio Azteca on Sunday at 6 p.m. local time. For U.S. viewers that is 8 p.m. ET; for UK supporters it is 1 a.m. BST on Monday. ESPN reported that moving the fixture would have disrupted late-week travel and preparation plans for both teams and their supporters.
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Could weather still delay the match?
Even with the kickoff unchanged, ESPN reported that adverse weather remained a concern around the originally scheduled window in Mexico City. Tournament protocols can delay matches when storms threaten player and fan safety, similar to the hour-long delay before Mexico's win over Ecuador.
Sources told ESPN the Mexico game tomorrow will start at the original 6 p.m. local time, not the noon slot that was briefly under discussion. The Athletic added that Sunday's match will go ahead as planned only after emergency talks over the six-hour shift.