England's World Cup last-16 match against Mexico will start at the original kick-off time. The confirmation comes after speculation that the kick-off time might be changed due to thunderstorms in the area.
Mexico's previous game against Ecuador was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms around the stadium. According to World Cup safety rules, any lightning strikes detected within eight miles of a stadium result in an automatic 30-minute delay to play.
The English Football Association and Mexico's head coach, Javier Aguirre, were reportedly unhappy with a proposed change to an earlier kick-off time. Aguirre claimed he had not been consulted about the change and described it as a 'kick in the stomach'.
Aguirre expressed his frustration, stating that the change would disrupt their matchday plan and provide no advantage to either team. He emphasized that the original 6pm kick-off time was preferable and that the new time would be a significant change.
The proposed change had caused concern among England supporters in the United States who had tickets for the game, as they would have had to rebook flights at short notice to arrive in time for the earlier kick-off. The English team and staff also would have had to alter their preparations.
The BBC, an official broadcaster, denied involvement in discussions about changing the kick-off time. The English Football Association and the team were said to be 'stunned' after hearing of the potential change through enquiries from journalists.
