FIFA has abandoned plans to bring forward the World Cup last-16 match between England and Mexico by six hours, keeping the original kickoff time at Estadio Azteca after intense pushback from both football associations.
The governing body initially considered moving the Sunday fixture from 18:00 local time to 12:00 local time due to forecasted storms, lightning, and potential flooding in Mexico City.
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The proposed shift triggered immediate anger from the English and Mexican federations less than 48 hours before kickoff, citing disruptions to fan travel, team preparation, and event logistics.
The scheduling chaos unfolded while the England squad concluded a training session in Kansas City, leaving officials scrambling for information before entering discussions with FIFA.
Concerns were also raised regarding a potential fixture overlap with the Brazil-Norway match, which is scheduled for 21:00 BST on Sunday.
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Mexico manager Javier Aguirre expressed strong dissatisfaction with the sudden scheduling discussions during his pre-match media duties, calling it a "kick in the gut."
The proposed change also sparked reports in Mexico suggesting British broadcaster BBC was lobbying for the new time, which the corporation formally denied.
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"Not involved in these discussions," a BBC spokesperson said.
As negotiations continued behind the scenes, media reports indicated that FIFA was preparing to reverse its stance due to mounting logistical hurdles.
Mexican journalist Gibran Araige noted: "Well, it looks like Fifa is backing down on the schedule change. Everything points to the match staying at 6pm [Mexico time].
Both federations are annoyed."
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Following the final decision, the fixture remains scheduled for 18:00 local time on Sunday, protecting travel arrangements for 3,000 English fans holding ticket allocations.
