England vs Mexico kick-off time now moved BACK to 1am in blow to millions of fans

Fifa had been locked in discussions over whether to shift the kick-off from 1am on Monday to 7pm on Sunday night – or potentially even earlier – over the threat of thunderstorms in Mexico City.

But the game will remain at its original kick-off time amid outcry from both the Football Association and its Mexican counterparts.

Fifa will, however, continue to monitor the weather forecast across Saturday.

The FA were said to be shocked at the last-moment change.

And bosses only found out about the rescheduling from journalists at a training session – after the story had originally broken in Mexican media.

The Mexican journalist who broke the story, Gibran Araige, said later that Fifa was “backing down”.

Fifa sources insisted no decision was ever made to reschedule, according to The Independent.

Under tournament safety rules, any lightning strikes picked up within eight miles of a stadium mean play must be delayed by half an hour.

Fifa regulations for World Cup 2026 insist the body has the right to “cancel, reschedule or relocate” matches “at its sole discretion”.

Mexico manager Javier Aguirre raged at how he was left “quite angry” by the timing turmoil.

Aguirre said: “That’s right, it’s like a kick in the gut, it changes everything, the plan.

“It’s not that it’s completely ruined, but almost, because you have to swallow six hours of scheduled training.

“Obviously, we will abide by what Fifa says. I don’t like it at all, nor do my players. Of course, the food, the nap, the sleep, the physiotherapy, everything, everything, it seems trivial, but it isn’t.”

The England squad, meanwhile, had landed still waiting for official confirmation on the timings.

Attacking duo Morgan Rogers and Marcus Rashford earlier both insisted they’d power through any kick-off chaos.

“It’s just another obstacle to overcome,” Rogers said. “We’ll be ready regardless of the time.”

“I think for us it’s the same, how we prepare for the game,” Rashford added. “It has to be the same, we have to be focused, we have to be ready for anything.”

England have also been preparing for the possibility of off-field distractions after Ecuador complained to Fifa that players were kept awake before their last-32 match by a gathering of fans outside their hotel.

Riot police, fences and more have been stationed outside the Three Lions’ digs in the Mexican capital as a result.

“I’m not concerned about it at the moment, but I won’t be happy if it wakes me up,” said Rogers, who joked he might have to invest in earplugs.

Brazil vs Norway would also have had to be moved if England vs Mexico did – with all four countries involved said to be furious at the change.

And alongside hundreds of millions of football fans, tens of thousands of pub landlords back in England and Wales are still waiting for final, official confirmation that the 1am kick-off will stay as it was.

Sir Keir Starmer announced on Thursday that pubs across the two nations would be able to stay open late for the match.

The timing of the decision was criticised by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, who said the “late announcement” meant forces having to adapt plans and take officers away from their beats.

Police and pub staff looked to have been handed a reprieve – but now, no longer.

Away from the pubs, schools around the country had chosen to let pupils start late on Monday so that children can watch the early-hours clash.

Thomas Tuchel had appealed to the nation’s teachers and parents, declaring: “Write an excuse for school and let them watch football.

“Come on. There’s so much school to go to, but the World Cup is every four years. Let them watch.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson then suggested children could watch the match and and still make it into class.

“I’m not going to get involved in parents and their bedtime routines for their children, that isn’t a wise move for a politician.

“It’s a late game, but children can be in school the next day,” she said.