Mexico-England World Cup Match May Start 6 Hours Earlier
Mexico and England's 2026 World Cup Round of 16 match may kick off six hours earlier than planned on July 5 to avoid thunderstorms expected at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.
The Round of 16 match between Mexico and England at the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be rescheduled six hours earlier than originally planned due to weather safety concerns, according to BBC reporting.
The match was originally scheduled for 6:00 p.m. local time on July 5 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City (7:00 a.m. Thailand time on July 6), but weather forecasts show a significant risk of thunderstorms in the area during that window. Officials are now considering moving the kickoff to 12:00 p.m. local time on July 5 (1:00 a.m. Thailand time on July 6) to ensure match safety.
While FIFA has not yet made an official statement, tournament regulations allow the organization to reschedule, postpone, or relocate World Cup matches at its discretion. The competition also includes a lightning protocol: if thunderstorms are detected within eight miles of the stadium during play, the match will be suspended for 30 minutes. If lightning occurs again during the stoppage, a new 30-minute countdown begins.
