No decision was ever made to reschedule kickoff time of 6pm local time in Mexico City, sources tell Al Jazeera. Published On 4 Jul 20264 Jul 2026Mexico’s knockout match against England will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday and kick off at 6pm local time (00:00 GMT on Sunday), sources told Al Jazeera after media reports suggested the match could be rescheduled.Several media outlets reported on Friday that the fixture could face rescheduling to avoid inclement weather, but the move was not confirmed by FIFA.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list“No decision was ever made to reschedule kickoff time,” sources told Al Jazeera, confirming that action at the iconic open-air Estadio Azteca will go ahead as scheduled.Mexican media reported that the match would kick off at noon local time (18:00 GMT), rather than its originally scheduled 6pm start.Any change to that fixture would, in turn, have affected the timing of Brazil’s match against Norway in New York, which was scheduled for 4pm local time (20:00 GMT).Mexico’s last-32 match against Ecuador earlier this week was delayed due to rain.If the change to the Mexico-England game had gone ahead, it could have transformed playing conditions. Instead of the relative cool of an evening kickoff, the teams could have faced the strongest sunshine and highest temperatures of the day in Mexico City.Forecasts for Sunday point to temperatures of about 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit) at midday under a high UV index, even if the capital’s altitude keeps conditions cooler than many other World Cup venues. It was reported earlier that FIFA was considering changing the kickoff times of two World Cup last-16 matches on Sunday as severe weather, including a risk of flooding, in Mexico City threatened to disrupt the schedule [Isaac Esquivel/ EPA]Greater physical challengeCombined with the stadium’s altitude of about 2,200 metres, an earlier start would have placed an even greater physical premium on energy management. Advertisement Sports medicine experts say the thinner air reduces oxygen availability, accelerating fatigue and m …
