England-Mexico World Cup match keeps 1am BST kick-off after FIFA U-turn

FIFA has dropped its proposal to move England's World Cup match against Mexico from 18:00 local time on Sunday to midday, following strong objections from both national football associations. The governing body ultimately decided to retain the original schedule, meaning the game will kick off at 01:00 BST on Monday.

The sudden proposal, first reported by Mexican local media, was widely attributed to forecasts of severe thunderstorms in Mexico City. However, the shift would have created immediate chaos for the travel plans of more than 3,000 England fans attending the 87,000-capacity Estadio Azteca.

The Football Association warned that altering flights and accommodation at such short notice would be excessively costly for supporters. Both the English and Mexican FAs expressed anger at being left out of the loop, raising concerns over player preparation and stadium security. The BBC, which holds the UK broadcast rights, denied reports that it had lobbied for the earlier 19:00 BST slot.

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre described the proposed shift as a "kick in the stomach", noting his team's preparation would have been heavily disrupted. "Fifa organises, Fifa decides, and I comply," he told radio station Grupo Formula. "We adapt, there are no excuses, and we have to play and win."

England's players played down the potential disruption. Winger Marcus Rashford called the situation "not ideal" but stressed preparation would remain the same. Forward Morgan Rogers echoed this, stating the squad would be ready regardless of the time.

The original 01:00 BST kick-off already prompted the UK government to pass emergency legislation allowing pubs in England and Wales to stay open until 5am. It remains unclear if that law would have been reversed had FIFA successfully moved the match to a prime-time Sunday evening slot in Europe.

The fixture will now proceed at the Estadio Azteca, a stadium sitting 7,220ft above sea level where Mexico has lost just twice in 89 matches. The altitude lowers oxygen intake, causing increased heart rates and quicker fatigue. Government forecasters still warn of a high risk of severe thunderstorms and hail on Sunday, with conditions expected to peak around the late afternoon and evening.