England’s preparations for their massive World Cup meeting with Mexico have been shaken up by uncertainty surrounding the kick-off time after Fifa backtracked on moving the match forward by six hours.
The country was bracing for an early morning 1am BST kick-off, with pubs in the United Kingdom allowed to stay open until the early hours - but in a late twist, kick-off looked set to be changed to 7pm BST on Sunday afternoon due to a storm threat in Mexico City. However, it’s now understood that Fifa have gone back on these plans with both England and Mexico’s federations irate.
England are in the last 16 after Harry Kane’s double saved Thomas Tuchel’s side – and perhaps the manager’s job – against DR Congo after falling behind early in Atlanta, but a far tougher test is to come.
The Mexico clash will provide a unique challenge with altitude and an anticipated hostile reception providing added factors for the England squad as they prepare for the Estadio Azteca – scene of Diego Maradona’s contrasting double in 1986. Declan Rice has been declared fully fit in a significant injury boost, while England are also plotting to avoid the impact of a boisterous set of Mexico supporters at their hotel.
Follow all the build-up to Sunday’s exciting tie with co-hosts Mexico:
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The five hours of chaos surrounding England’s World Cup tie that exposed Fifa’s lack of leadership
England enter the Azteca cathedral – football’s greatest stadium
Mexico v England build-up latest
- England face daunting altitude test at Estadio Azteca 40 years on from Mexico '86
- Fifa backtrack on plans to move kick-off forward to 7pm BST after farcical few hours of confusion
- Pubs have been permitted to stay open to early hours for World Cup clash
- Mexico boss furious at Fifa over proposed World Cup kick-off change
- Kane on 'disadvantage' for England against Mexico
Mexico v England tickets reach eye-watering £27,000 for World Cup last-16 tie
12:41 , Mike JonesTickets for England’s last-16 clash against co-hosts Mexico at World Cup 2026 are selling for eye-watering prices up to $36,000 [£27,300].
The clash is rivalling the most expensive World Cup knockout fixtures ever after England battled to a 2-1 victory over DR Congo thanks to Harry Kane’s rescue act to set up a mouthwatering tie at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, at 1am BST on Monday.
Outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer is set to relax UK licensing laws to allow all pubs to stay open until the small hours on Monday morning should they wish but fans hoping to attend the fixture in Mexico face ludicrously high ticket prices on Fifa’s resale website.
Mexico v England tickets reach eye-watering £27,000 for World Cup last-16 tie
Education Secretary insists children should go to school after England game
12:24 , Mike JonesThe Education Secretary says schoolchildren could watch England’s early-morning World Cup match against Mexico on Monday and still make it to class after head coach Thomas Tuchel said pupils should be allowed “an excuse for school”.
Victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday set up a meeting with the co-hosts in Mexico City that will kick off at 1am BST, likely impacting the size of the television audience able to watch.
In the past it has been common for schools and employers to allow England games in the latter stages of major tournaments to be shown when they clash with working hours, but Monday’s kick-off in the small hours poses a unique obstacle.
However, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson does not believe watching the match necessarily means children need to miss school.
“It’s a late game, but children can be in school the next day,” she told the Press Association.
Asked if she believed children can both watch the game and still make it into school, she said: “Well, I think they can, yes, but it’s for parents to decide how they manage this, and of course, it depends on the age of your children, how they feel. But this is about decisions for individual families.”
England fans set sights on Mexico City
12:11 , Mike JonesAre you heading for Mexico City?
British Airways saw a 2,000 per cent spike in searches on Thursday for flights from London to the Mexican capital – comparing levels at 5pm, with those at the final whistle of England’s win of DR Congo.
The most significant numbers occurred during the final hour of the match, with a 530% increase between 6pm and 7pm, as England fans' confidence soared when Harry Kane scored his two match-winning goals.
England's win over DR Congo records huge viewing figures
11:55 , Mike JonesEngland's dramatic World Cup victory over DR Congo delivered the BBC's biggest live audience of 2026, with a peak audience of 16.3 million watching Harry Kane's late winner on BBC One and BBC iPlayer to send England into the Round of 16.
The match also averaged 14 million viewers and was the most-watched moment on the BBC this year.
Mexico boss furious at Fifa over proposed World Cup kick-off change vs England
11:35 , Mike JonesMexico manager Javier Aguirre is “quite angry” at the proposed kick-off time change for his side’s World Cup 2026 last 16 tie with England on Sunday.
Fifa and the Mexican and English football associations are in talks over the scheduled kick-off time, with the consideration of adverse weather and the prospect of flooding in Mexico City.
It is the latest wildcard factor to a game which will be influenced by the impact of altitude on both sets of players, while reports suggested that the time could change from 6pm local time (1am BST on Monday) to 12pm local time (7pm BST).
Mexico boss furious at proposed World Cup kick-off change vs England
England break 60-year World Cup curse against DR Congo to spark fresh hope
11:18 , Mike JonesThe win over DR Congo might be more significant for England than first appeared – the last time they conceded the first goal in a World Cup game and came back to win was the 1966 final.
Harry Kane’s double clinched just the second-ever time England have landed a win after an opponent broke the deadlock in a knockout tie, according to Fox Sports, with five draws and 17 defeats in the 25 matches.
Thomas Tuchel makes England World Cup plea to parents: ‘Write an excuse for school’
11:01 , Mike Jones"I was happy to watch the first half and then it wasn't on, and I slept at 10 o'clock," Tuchel told reporters after England's win over DR Congo.
"Very unusual for me, but I have somehow a crazy early bedtime during this World Cup and I didn't see it. I saw the result, of course, and I saw that they didn't concede, and it will be a tough one."
Harry Kane on 'disadvantage' for England against Mexico
10:44 , Mike JonesThe England captain said: "My understanding is we cannot adapt to the altitude.
“It's a huge advantage Mexico have. There's not enough time.
"We knew that before. It's just a disadvantage with which we will have to deal. But we showed the attitude."
The secret to Harry Kane’s greatness – and why this World Cup is different
10:25 , Mike JonesAfter Harry Kane put it into the top corner, and the bottom corner, Declan Rice maybe put it best after a remarkable 2-1 win over DR Congo.
England’s striker, Rice said, is just “inevitable”.
Kane is as close to a guarantee as you can get. This is why the England team is almost entirely built around their captain, it’s why descriptions of “the Harry Kane team” aren’t a total exaggeration.
Just look at the range he displayed in this very game to inspire this first come-from-behind England win in a World Cup knockout match since 1966.
The secret to Harry Kane’s greatness – and why this World Cup is different
Mexico boss furious at Fifa over proposed World Cup kick-off change vs England
10:12 , Mike JonesMexico manager Javier Aguirre is “quite angry” at the proposed kick-off time change for his side’s World Cup 2026 last 16 tie with England on Sunday.
Fifa and the Mexican and English football associations are in talks over the scheduled kick-off time, with the consideration of adverse weather and the prospect of flooding in Mexico City.
It seems the decision has been made to keep the game at 1am BST on Monday morning but the lack of clarity is confusing for all involved.
England enter the Azteca cathedral – football’s greatest stadium
10:10 , Miguel DelaneyIt only adds to all of the symbolism around the Azteca that, before Pele and Diego Maradona reached a level of football that is now seen as celestial, they first had to ascend.
The old structure of the grand stadium had the dressing rooms underground, so teams had to come and continue up a flight of stairs.
It was so enclosed that, despite 115,000 fans raucously cheering outside, all Maradona could hear in the moments before that England game at the 1986 World Cup was “the clicking of studs on that metallic floor”.
England enter the Azteca cathedral – football’s greatest stadium
Pubs can stay open until 5am for England’s World Cup match against Mexico
10:08 , Mike JonesEngland fans back home have been given a boost by news that pubs can stay open until 5am on Monday morning to take in the World Cup clash with Mexico.
Predict the World Cup and win a holiday to Spain with Jet2: Have you got what it takes?
10:00 , Mike JonesPlay our World Cup 2026 knockout prediction game, pick every result from the last 16 onwards, and win a holiday for two to Spain at the Daia Slow Beach Hotel Conil with Jet2.
Full terms and conditions can be found here.
Can Fifa reschedule World Cup matches?
09:50 , Mike JonesFifa do have the power to reschedule matches at the World Cup.
The world footballing governing body’s regulations for World Cup 2026 state it has the right to "cancel, reschedule or relocate" matches "at its sole discretion".
Fifa don’t appear to have to jump through many hoops to get things like this changed, to the potential dismay of its competing teams.
England's route to the World Cup final
09:40 , Mike JonesBased off Fifa rankings, and probability, here’s what England’s route to the World Cup final could look like - with Mexico first up:
Round of 16
5 July: England vs Mexico | Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
Quarter-final
11 July: England vs Brazil | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami
Semi-final
15 July: England vs Argentina | Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Final
19 July: England vs Spain | MetLife Stadium, New Jersey
What is the team news?
09:20 , Mike JonesMexico have no major worries, although star winger Julian Quinones is managing a knock.
Right-back remains the primary area of concern for England and Thomas Tuchel with Reece James and Jarrel Quansah both fighting for fitness.
Should they not be available Djed Spence could continue there despite struggling throughout the DR Congo game.
Declan Rice will play despite his continuing issues with what Tuchel described as “terrible” neural pain.
Who will the winner face next?
09:15 , Mike JonesThe winners will meet Brazil or Norway in a last eight tie slated for Saturday 11 July in Miami at 10pm BST.
How can I watch it?
09:10 , Mike JonesViewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on BBC1, with coverage on the channel from 12am BST. A live stream will be available via BBC iPlayer.
What time is Mexico vs England kick-off?
09:06 , Mike JonesEngland face the daunting prospect of ending Mexico’s 13-year unbeaten run at the Azteca Stadium in what promises to be a compelling World Cup 2026 last-16 clash.
Thomas Tuchel’s team, who are yet to hit the heights expected of them pre-tournament, must deal with a passionate home crowd and the complications of performing at altitude.
Mexico vs England is due to kick off at 1am BST on Monday 6 July at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City - but that may change because of the threat of severe thunderstorms. A new time of 7pm BST on Sunday has been proposed, according to reports in Mexico.
Good morning!
09:02 , Mike JonesWelcome to The Independent’s coverage of the 2026 World Cup as we build up to England’s fascinating last-16 tie against Mexico on Sunday.
The game is scheduled to kick off at 1am BST Sunday night/early Monday morning but there were rumours that Fifa were looking to change the start time due to possible storm threats.
The lack of communication from Fifa caused a storm of its own yesterday as fluctuations to the start time created an uncertain chaos around the game before it seems Fifa reverted back to the original kick off time.
England, meanwhile, are preparing for a battle against the World Cup co-hosts at altitude with the Azteca Stadium a cauldron they must overcome should they hope to reach the quarter finals.
We’ll have all the latest news and build up throughout the next couple of days ahead of Mexico v England.
