Mexico v England LIVE: World Cup last-16 tie could be brought forward due to storm threat – UK Times

Media in Mexico, citing sources with knowledge of the matter, have suggested the game, which is scheduled to kick off at 1am BST on Monday morning (6pm local time on Sunday) will now start at 7pm BST (12pm local) instead. The BBC are also reporting that they understand the game has been brought forward.

That is because of a significant risk of storms in the area when the match is currently scheduled and Mexico already saw their last-32 match against Ecuador earlier this week delayed due to rain.

England’s last-16 tie with Mexico could be moved to earlier on Sunday because of the threat of storms.

Fifa is considering bringing the game at the Estadio Azteca forward, with reports in Mexico claiming kick-off will move from 1am BST to 7pm BST – a jump of six hours.

England are certainly wary of the impact of altitude on Sunday night. Miguel Delaney reports:

England appear in a total mess at right-back. Reece James missed training yesterday and Djed Spence did not convince at all against DR Congo. It feels a problem mostly of Thomas Tuchel’s own making:

England have overcome several World Cup obstacles already this summer – yet Thomas Tuchel is fully aware of the seismic challenge that awaits at the cauldron that is the Azteca Stadium in the last-16.

The co-hosts have been whipped up into a piping-hot frenzy over the last three weeks, unleashed most impressively in their last-32 victory against Ecuador. Following a weather delay, the rampant Julian Quinonez and Raul Jimenez landed a pair of haymakers to leave their South American opponents dazed.

Yet England’s most daunting task on Sunday night could well be the conditions, with altitude set to be a great leveller with Mexico City’s iconic Azteca situated 7,220ft (2,240m) above sea level.

Have you filled out your World Cup bracket? We’re getting towards the pointy end of the tournament.

Thomas Tuchel believes England will right the wrongs of the ‘Hand of God’ as “karma” will be on their side for their long-awaited return to the Estadio Azteca.

Sunday’s mouthwatering World Cup last-16 clash against co-hosts Mexico takes the team back to the historic stadium for the first time since their unforgettable date with Diego Maradona in 1986.

The late playmaker’s goals in Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final defeat of England have gone down in football folklore, having produced a jaw-dropping solo effort after punching the opener past Peter Shilton.

Tuchel vividly remembers watching that World Cup as a child and believes his side will benefit from cosmic justice when they face Mexico at the Azteca on Sunday.

Asked if the ‘Hand of God’ will be in the air 40 years on, he said: “Yes, it will reward us. We will get it back. It’s karma. Karma will come back for us. We will turn it around. I remember of course the World Cup of Maradona. The two goals against England – the one dribbling and the one which would never stand these days.”

As England prepare for Sunday’s blockbuster World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico, St George’s Crosses are once again appearing on homes, cars and pub windows as fans rally behind the Three Lions’ bid to end 60 years of hurt.

But while major tournaments have long been a time for supporters to proudly display the England flag, many now feel its meaning has become more complicated.

Independent readers have been weighing in on whether the St George’s Cross can still act as a unifying national symbol, revealing a deeply divided picture.

Millions of football fans are expected to stay up into the early hours of Monday morning to watch England’s World Cup match against Mexico, but the fixture faces a significant challenge to set a new record for the UK’s largest post-midnight TV audience. The formidable figure to beat stands at 18.5 million viewers.

This long-standing record was established shortly after midnight on Monday, 29 April 1985, when an estimated 18.5 million people tuned into BBC2 for the dramatic conclusion of that year’s World Snooker Championship final. The epic encounter saw defending champion Steve Davis battle Dennis Taylor at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre.