England’s Mexico kick off time chaos defined – this is what time it does begin

FIFA wanted to bring the start of last-16 match six hours forward to dodge thunderstorms but neither England nor Mexico agreed leaving fans facing early hours’ nerve-shredder

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England’s World Cup glory bid descended into kick-off chaos after FIFA threatened to bring the Mexico showdown forward by six hours to dodge thunderstorms – only to u-turn.

Fears of lightning around the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City prompted football chiefs to consider moving the start of the last-16 clash from 1am on Monday to 7pm Sunday.

England only found out just before they caught their flight to Mexico from their tournament HQ in Kansas City. The game now will kick off at 1am as planned.

They were reportedly angry at the proposal mooted less than 72 hours before the match which will decide which country reaches the quarter-finals.

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre was furious too and said the switch would force him to change his game plan. He told radio station Grupo Formula it was ‘like a kick in the stomach because clearly you change everything, the game plan, everything’

“Not that everything goes down the drain, but almost because you’re changing six hours,” he said. “I don’t like it at all, but evidently we will abide by what FIFA says. But I especially don’t like any of it, and neither do my players.”

He said FIFA informed him of the potential move on Friday afternoon.

FIFA sources said the match was still scheduled to kick off at the original time but would have to be halted if lightning strikes within eight miles of the stadium.

It could only resume if a bolt-free half-hour was recorded. That means the game could rumble on into breakfast for fans watching back in England – particularly if it goes to extra time and penalties.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has allowed pubs to stay open until 5pm so supporters can watch the action with pals. But according to weather forecasts there is no guarantee the skies will clear to allow it to finish by then.

Staff face staggering in to work bleary-eyed and hungover while parents will have to decide whether to let their children watch it and skip school.

When England touched down in Mexico they still did not know when they would be playing. Midfielder Morgan Rogers said: “We’ll be ready regardless of the time – earlier the better because you want to play.

“There is enough thinking about what is going to happen and the build-up. You just want to play the game. We’re looking forward to it whatever the time is.

“I’m not concerned about it but won’t be happy if it wakes me up, I’ll be honest. We’ll deal with it as best as possible. It’s another obstacle to get over.

“We’ll take it how it is. Whatever the task is in front of us, whatever problem we face or different thing that we think might be a bit difficult, we’re just going to attack full front.

“We’ll be ready as a whole team, be together and talk through what can help us, what can be difficult and just try to overcome it.”

Marcus Rashford said the prospect of the kick-off being moved was ‘not ideal’ but the squad would deal with it.

“It’s the same how we prepare for the game,” the England winger said. “It has to be the same. We have to be focused. We have to be ready for anything. It’s one of our strengths as a group.

“Everyone, including the players and staff, we are ready for whatever challenges get thrown at us. So it’s not ideal but also it doesn’t really matter.”

The kick-off switch could have spelled disaster for thousands of Three Lions’ fans leaving it late to arrive in Mexico for the match.

After paying thousands for seats they faced turning up in the middle of a storm to find it already over.

Last minute tickets were on sale for up to £80,000. One fan posted online: “That will really f*** it up for some people for sure.

Another wrote: “Unlucky for the bloke who said he was flying in the day of the game.”

The Met Office is predicting severe thunder and lightning will hit the stadium an hour before kick-off.

Boxpark chief executive Matt Snell said his venues would be ready to welcome fans ‘whatever FIFA decide’.

“We’re waiting to hear whether the kick-off time will change,” he said. “If the match is brought forward it will make it easier for more fans to come together and experience the atmosphere at Boxpark.”