The World Cup 2026 match between England and co-hosts Mexico will NOT be moved to an earlier kick-off time.
Mexico vs England in Mexico City will start at the scheduled 6:00pm on Sunday local time, meaning a 1:00am kick-off on Monday in British Summer Time. The overnight scheduling is England's latest of the World Cup and persuaded Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel to ask parents to allow their children to stay up through the early hours.
Thunderstorms are forecast in the area around Mexico City Stadium on Sunday evening, prompting speculation that the round of 16 match could be beset by weather delays.
It had been reported by Mexican broadcaster Claro Sports that an alternative solution was on the table as FIFA and local authorities seek to minimise disruption at a time of year when storms are common.
The broadcaster reported: "The match will now be played at 12:00pm Central Time (Mexico), instead of 6:00pm as originally planned."
"This is due to the National Meteorological Service's forecast of thunderstorms in Mexico City on Sunday."
A six-hour move would have meant a 7:00pm kick-off UK time, which would have solved a wide variety of problems for England fans watching from home but cause some rather more significant ones for those planning to attend in person.
The move would have mirrored the kick off time of the 1986 World Cup game between England and Argentina - in which Diego Maradona scored twice, including the infamous Hand of God goal - to send England home which was also played in the Azteca.
But England have benefitted from having matches moved at a previous World Cup. In 1966, the semi-final with Portugal was due to be played at Goodison Park in Liverpool but a late decision by FIFA moved the game to Wembley. Bobby Charlton score both goals for England, while Eusébio scored a late penalty for Portugal.
Instead, Goodison hosted the other semi-final between West Germany and Soviet Union.
If Sunday's game between Mexico and England had been moved then it will also cut across the round of 16 game between Brazil and Norway, which kicks off at 9:00pm UK time in New Jersey and could also move as a result. That match will be broadcast on ITV, while the BBC has selected the England match.
"This 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," reports Claro Sports.
"The situation is not new for the Mexican national team at the 2026 World Cup. The match against Ecuador, played last Sunday at the Azteca Stadium, was delayed by an hour due to an electrical storm in the capital, before the team led by Javier Aguirre achieved a 2-0 victory."
England face the disadvantage of playing at altitude and prioritised recovery time at their base in Kansas City over trying in vain to maximise acclimatisation ahead of their visit to Azteca.
FIFA is able to reschedule World Cup fixtures, but it has now been confirmed that the kick off will not move.
