FIFA has confirmed that Sunday's World Cup round-of-16 match between England and Mexico in Mexico City will proceed at its originally scheduled time, ending five hours of confusion.
The confusion began when a local television network reported that the game would be moved forward by six hours due to a forecast of thunderstorms.
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Afternoon storms in the host city are known to appear regularly during the summer season, according to local residents.
World Cup organizers noted the risk of flooding, but officials within the governing body initially struggled to clarify the situation while negotiations continued behind closed doors.
The lack of immediate communication forced participating teams and traveling supporters to scramble for updates, with the England squad mid-flight without wireless internet access during the height of the rumors.
Mexico Coach Voices Frustration
Mexican national team manager Javier Aguirre voiced major complaints over the potential rescheduling, citing the severe impact on athlete routines.
"The schedule change hits like a kick in the stomach," Aguirre said.
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Aguirre expressed intense frustration regarding the sudden logistical shifts affecting team preparations. "We have to change the entire plan.
I don't like it at all, nor do my players," he said.
The coach emphasized that even the smallest details of a player's routine require consistency before a knockout match.
"Of course, the food, the nap, the sleep, the physiotherapy, everything, everything, it seems trivial, but it isn't," Aguirre added.
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Ultimately, the match will proceed at its original time because the massive operational and military logistics surrounding the stadium could not be altered on short notice.
