England v Mexico World Cup clash moved to earlier kick-off due to storm threat

England's World Cup last-16 showdown with Mexico is being pushed forward by six hours amid fears of severe storms in Mexico City. FIFA is set to move the match from its original Monday 1:00 AM BST start to Sunday 19:00 BST (18:00 local time). The fixture was scheduled to take place at the iconic Azteca Stadium, but weather forecasts predicting thunderstorms and heavy rain around the original kick-off time have prompted the change. While FIFA has not yet publicly cited the weather as the reason, tournament safety protocols are strict on lightning. Any strike detected within eight miles of the stadium triggers an automatic 30-minute suspension of play. Given the expected conditions, moving the game earlier reduces the risk of disruption. This is not the first weather-related adjustment of the tournament. France's group-stage match against Iraq in Philadelphia suffered a delay of over two hours due to similar safety concerns. FIFA regulations for the 2026 World Cup grant organizers the right to "cancel, reschedule or relocate" any match at its sole discretion, making the rescheduling fully within the rules.