Starmer’s World Cup involvement not comparable to Trump’s interference, says Downing Street

PoliticsFootball
7 Jul 2026 • 9:22 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Starmer’s World Cup involvement not comparable to Trump’s interference, says Downing Street

  • Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer intervened in discussions to prevent England's World Cup match against Mexico from being brought forward from 6pm to 12pm local time.
  • Sir Keir's involvement was aimed at safeguarding England's preparations for the last-16 fixture, which was scheduled to be played at high altitude in Mexico City.
  • Downing Street clarified that the Prime Minister supported representations made by the Football Association regarding the practical implications of the proposed scheduling change, while noting that the final decision remained with Fifa.
  • The Prime Minister's actions took place amid wider accusations of political interference in Fifa by American president Donald Trump concerning a red card issued to a United States striker, though Downing Street distinguished the two situations.
  • Ultimately, the match kicked off an hour later than originally scheduled due to local thunderstorms, with England securing a 3-2 victory to advance to the quarter-finals.

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