FIFA is exploring the possibility of rescheduling the kick-off time for the upcoming match between Mexico and England due to concerns about adverse weather conditions, including potential flooding and thunderstorms, a source has confirmed.
The round of 16 match, initially set to start at 6 PM local time (1 AM BST), could be moved to midday (7 PM BST), effectively advancing the start time by six hours.
The Football Association is urgently seeking clarity on this situation, which emerged just as Thomas Tuchel and his squad completed their training session in Kansas City around 1 PM CDT. The governing body was caught off guard by this news, having learned of it from the media.
The FA expressed shock at the potential change so close to the match day, especially considering the impact it could have on traveling England fans, some of whom have arranged to arrive in Mexico City on Sunday morning.
Concerns also arise regarding Mexico City’s notoriously poor air quality, which may worsen during the midday heat. Current forecasts suggest a temperature of 21 degrees at midday, dropping to 16 degrees by 7 PM.
England’s team plans to fly from Kansas City to Mexico City on Friday afternoon to comply with FIFA’s request to practice at a venue-specific site the day before the match on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Mexico’s Football Association is reportedly unaware of the situation’s developments but has been informed by broadcasters that a midday kick-off is a distinct possibility.
In a previous tournament, France’s group stage match against Iraq experienced a two-hour delay due to thunderstorms. Insights gained from last year’s Club World Cup, which saw six significant delays during 63 matches, will inform any decision regarding the England game.
Local sources suggest that the authorities in Mexico City might welcome the change, as it could minimize the risk of disturbances during the night. Following their first knockout win since 1986, wild celebrations carried on into the early hours after the Ecuador game, which began at 8 PM, resulting in several injuries.
When asked about the game being rescheduled, England midfielder Morgan Rogers stated, “We’ll be ready regardless of the time. The 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. Getting that adrenaline out there will help us and get us going and playing. We’re looking forward to it whatever the time is. We’ll deal with it as best as possible. It’s another obstacle to get over.”
Marcus Rashford contributed, “I think for us it’s the same, how we prepare for the game, it has to be the same, we have to be focused, we have to be ready for anything. I think it’s one of the strengths of the group, everyone included, the players, the staff, we’re ready for whatever challenges get thrown at us. Obviously it’s not ideal but also it doesn’t matter.”
Tuchel and his coaching staff have adopted a military strategy known as VUCA, which stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. This approach underscores the importance of being prepared for any situation. The term originated from the U.S. Army War College in the early 1990s.
England intends to face any challenges head-on, with Tuchel’s assistant, Anthony Barry, previously emphasizing the necessity for a “The team that wins the World Cup will be the one that has this ‘Bring it on’ mentality,” mindset. The potential adjustment of the kick-off time serves as a crucial test of England’s adaptability.
“It’s hot. Bring it on. We’ve got late flights. Bring it on. We play eight games, not seven. Bring it on. There’s a storm. Bring it on. We’ve got a flight with time difference. Bring it on. Bring it on. Bring it on.” Barry remarked. “It’s hot. Bring it on. We’ve got late flights. Bring it on. We play eight games, not seven. Bring it on. There’s a storm. Bring it on. We’ve got a flight with time difference. Bring it on. Bring it on. Bring it on.”
