England's World Cup last-16 clash with Mexico descended into confusion on Friday after FIFA considered moving the kickoff time forward by six hours. Reports emerged that storms forecast around the Azteca stadium prompted the potential change from 18:00 local time to 12:00, leaving fans and players scrambling to understand the sudden disruption.

The Football Association learned of the proposed switch around 20:00 BST, sparking immediate backlash. Both national associations objected to the late change, citing fan travel logistics and team preparation issues. Mexico manager Javier Aguirre branded the move "a kick in the gut" while England players Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford maintained composure during media duties.

By midnight BST, FIFA executed an abrupt U-turn, confirming the original 18:00 local time kickoff would stand. The decision preserved plans for 3,000 England supporters who had secured tickets months earlier, though they still face the 01:00 BST Monday start time.

Weather experts confirmed thunderstorms pose genuine risks at the later kickoff, with lightning and hail threats peaking during evening hours. However, the scheduling saga highlighted communication failures between FIFA and participating federations rather than resolving the underlying weather concerns.