BBC Sport reports that FIFA has decided to keep the kickoff time unchanged for the Round of 16 match between Mexico and England in the 2026 World Cup. There had been discussions about moving the game to an earlier slot due to potential adverse weather conditions on match day.
Initially, FIFA planned to bring the match forward by seven hours—from 03:00 Monday to 20:00 Sunday—to minimize inconvenience for the teams, fans, and media, given the weather forecast. However, strong opposition from both the Mexican and English teams, combined with logistical challenges, led to a reversal of this decision.
Mexican journalist Gibran Araige posted on social media: “It seems FIFA is backing down from its decision to reschedule. Everything points to the match taking place on Monday. Both federations are unhappy.”
Sources close to the England squad told BBC Sport that behind-the-scenes negotiations were extensive, with all parties trying to persuade FIFA to maintain the original schedule. Shortly before midnight British Summer Time, these sources confirmed to BBC Sport that the match would begin at the originally planned time.
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