Mexico’s World Cup round-of-16 match against England is set to begin at 6 p.m. local time as initially planned in Mexico City on Sunday, according to sources who spoke with ESPN. This decision comes after extensive discussions between FIFA and the two national associations on Friday.
Concerns regarding potential adverse weather in the Mexican capital on Sunday evening prompted the Mexican government to propose an earlier kickoff time of noon.
However, ESPN sources indicated that resistance from both the Mexican Football Federation and the English Football Association ultimately led FIFA to uphold the original schedule.
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FIFA aimed to prevent a repeat of the round-of-32 match between Mexico and Ecuador at the same venue, which experienced a one-hour delay due to thunderstorms.
Nonetheless, Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre expressed his discontent with the prospect of a time change. “It’s quite frustrating; we now have to adjust everything. It’s not as if all our planning goes to waste, but we are left scrambling at the last minute,” Aguirre remarked on Radio Formula. “While we will comply with FIFA’s decisions, neither my players nor I are pleased about it.”
Changing the match time would also impact England’s preparations. The Three Lions are expected to arrive late Friday and will conduct their training session on Saturday at the UNAM Pumas facility in southern Mexico City, which would leave them with minimal time to acclimate to the city’s high elevation before the match.
Azteca Stadium is situated more than 7,300 feet above sea level. To perform optimally at high altitudes, elite athletes typically require a period of adjustment to minimize fatigue linked to lower atmospheric pressure and reduced oxygen levels. Experts generally recommend a two-week acclimating period or the “fly-in, fly-out” strategy of arriving as close to game time as possible to mitigate acute altitude symptoms.
England’s coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the challenge of adjusting to the elevation, stating, “I understand that we cannot acclimate to this altitude. It’s a significant advantage for Mexico, and adapting takes too long.” He added, “With just three days between our round-of-32 victory over Congo DR and the Mexico match, it’s physically impossible for us to adjust to such high altitude.”
This report includes contributions from ESPN’s James Olley, Lizzy Becherano, Tom Hamilton, and The Associated Press.