The round of 16 clash between Mexico and England at the FIFA World Cup 2026 could be moved six hours earlier than planned, according to Mexican broadcaster Claro Sports, with thunderstorms threatening Sunday evening conditions around Mexico City Stadium.

The match is currently scheduled to kick off at 6:00pm local time on Sunday — equivalent to 1:00am Monday in British Summer Time. A rescheduled start of 12:00pm Central Time would push the UK kick-off to 7:00pm, a far more accessible hour for England supporters watching from home.

Storm forecast prompts scheduling talks

Mexico City's National Meteorological Service has forecast thunderstorms on Sunday evening, raising concern that the fixture could suffer significant weather delays. FIFA and local authorities are reportedly exploring the earlier slot to minimise disruption during a period when such storms are routine in the Mexican capital.

"The match will now be played at 12:00pm Central Time (Mexico), instead of 6:00pm as originally planned," Claro Sports reported. "This is due to the National Meteorological Service's forecast of thunderstorms in Mexico City on Sunday."

Claro Sports added that the change would create considerable logistical challenges for both sides. "This would affect the plans of both teams, as they would also have to modify their activities already planned for Saturday, the day before the match, as well as their training sessions and travel arrangements."

England's altitude challenge

England had already opted to base themselves in Kansas City ahead of the tie, prioritising recovery over attempting to acclimatise to the altitude of Mexico City's Azteca. A six-hour reduction in preparation time is unlikely to dramatically worsen the difficulties already posed by altitude, but the logistical demands placed on both squads over the next 48 hours would be considerable.

England manager Thomas Tuchel had previously appealed to parents to allow their children to stay up for the original 1:00am UK kick-off — a plea that would become unnecessary if the schedule shifts.

Knock-on effect for Brazil vs Norway

A time change would also affect the scheduling of the other round of 16 match on the same day — Brazil against Norway, set to kick off at 9:00pm UK time in New Jersey. That match is due to be broadcast on ITV, while the BBC holds rights to the England fixture.

This situation echoes an earlier incident in the tournament. Mexico's group-stage match against Ecuador at Azteca Stadium last Sunday was delayed by one hour due to an electrical storm, before Mexico secured a 2-0 victory under coach Javier Aguirre.

FIFA retains the authority to reschedule World Cup fixtures. As of the time of reporting, no official confirmation of a time change has been issued.