Mexico keeps World Cup kickoff time
Mexico keeps World Cup kickoff time
The World Cup match between Mexico and England will kick off as originally scheduled on Sunday, according to ESPN sources. The decision comes after lengthy talks between FIFA and the two national associations on Friday, following concerns over adverse weather conditions in the Mexican capital on Sunday evening.
Fears over thunderstorms and potential flooding had led to the Mexican government seeking an earlier kickoff time, specifically to noon -- six hours earlier in the day. However, opposition from both the Mexican Football Federation and English FA led to FIFA rejecting calls for a kickoff change and sticking with the original kickoff time.
Media additions
The match will kick off at 6 p.m. Local time at the Azteca Stadium, which is 8 p.m ET and 1 a.m. On Monday in the UK. Mexico coach Javier Aguirre had spoken out against the potential time change, describing it as a "kick in the gut" and stating that it would require significant changes to their preparation.
Rescheduling the match would have also affected England's preparations, as the Three Lions are scheduled to arrive late Friday and will hold their Saturday training session at the UNAM Pumas grounds in the south of the capital. The team would have been left with less time to acclimate to the Mexican capital's high elevation before kickoff, with Azteca Stadium sitting at more than 7,300 feet above sea level.
According to Reuters, FIFA had been considering moving the match to noon local time due to the risk of weather disruption, including possible flooding. However, the plan was ultimately abandoned after both England and Mexico pushed back against the decision.
England midfielder Morgan Rogers stated that the team would be ready regardless of the time, saying "Earlier the better because you want to play. There is enough thinking about what is going to happen and the buildup – you just want to play the game." Meanwhile, England coach Thomas Tuchel expressed concerns about the team's ability to adapt to the altitude, stating that "we cannot adapt to the altitude" and that it would be a "huge advantage" for Mexico.
The decision to keep the original kickoff time has been reported by multiple outlets, including Aol and Deadline. The BBC also reported that the game would kick off as scheduled, following a U-turn by FIFA.
In a statement, the BBC said that they were "not involved in these discussions" regarding the potential kickoff time change. The corporation will broadcast the match live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, and the BBC Sport website and app.
The threat of extreme weather has been a constant throughout the World Cup, with Mexico's round of 32 game against Ecuador delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms. France's group-stage fixture against Iraq was also delayed for over two hours due to safety concerns amid adverse weather conditions in Philadelphia.
As reported by Sporting News, the forecast for Sunday's match in Mexico City suggests a typical summer day, with an 80 percent chance of afternoon showers and thundershowers.
The decision to keep the original kickoff time has significant implications for fans, with over 3,000 England fans set to attend the fixture at the Azteca Stadium.
What to watch next
The England-Mexico match is one of the most highly anticipated World Cup matches in recent history, with the Three Lions facing a daunting task against the co-hosts at extreme altitude in Mexico City.
Fans can follow the match live on BBC TV, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 5 Live, and the BBC Sport website and app.
