New Delhi: As the World Cup advances into the Round of 16, there were discussions over shifting the kickoff time of Sunday’s match between Mexico and England. The move was being considered due to adverse weather conditions in Mexico City, where the match is scheduled to be played.
FIFA had proposed moving the match from 6 pm (5:30 am IST) local time to 12 noon (11:30 pm IST) in an attempt to avoid a repeat of the situation during Mexico’s Round of 32 clash against Ecuador at the same venue, which was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms. However, after objections from both teams, the proposal was dropped, and the match will go ahead at its originally scheduled 6 pm local time kickoff.
However, the proposal was not well-received by either of the two teams. Citing shortened preparation time and disrupted training schedules, both national associations expressed their opposition.
The Azteca Stadium, where the match will be played, sits at more than 2,200 metres above sea level, making it a challenging venue that requires a period of acclimatisation, particularly for the visiting team, England. Having arrived in Mexico City late on Friday, the English side would have had very little time to adapt to the demanding conditions posed by the altitude, potentially giving Mexico an advantage.
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Road to Round of 16
The proposed rescheduling also disrupted the host nation’s preparations. Mexico manager Javier Aguirre described the suggested change as a “kick in the stomach” in an interview with a local radio station. He said the revised schedule would have negatively affected the team’s preparations, as they would have lost six hours that had already been factored into their planning.
As opposition to the proposal became evident, lengthy discussions took place between FIFA and the two national associations. Following those talks, it was decided that the match would go ahead at its originally scheduled kickoff time.
On their road to the Round of 16, Mexico have enjoyed a flawless campaign as World Cup co-hosts. They topped Group A with three consecutive victories without conceding a goal before defeating Ecuador 2–0 in the Round of 32.
England, too, enter the Round of 16 in formidable form. They topped Group L with an unbeaten record of two wins and a draw before edging past DR Congo 2–1 in the Round of 32, with Harry Kane scoring twice in the second half. The result sets up a highly anticipated knockout clash at the Azteca Stadium.
(Edited by Saptak Datta)