Mexico-England Crunch World Cup Match Set To Move To Earlier Kick-Off Time — Reports

The highly anticipated World Cup last-16 match between England and Mexico at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City on Sunday looks set to move kickoff time due to the threat of storms.

The game had been scheduled for 6 p.m. local time Sunday, but the BBC is now reporting, following local reports out of Mexico, that the game will be played at midday local time. No official confirmation from FIFA just yet. Multiple national outlets are reporting that FIFA is in discussion with the England and Mexico camps about a potential time change.

A time shift would have a significant effect for broadcasters, fans and even pubs across England, which had been granted license by the UK government to stay open throughout the night on Sunday — a move which has created unease with the police authorities.

The new kickoff time would be music to the ears of most England fans in the UK and to BBC TV execs. Many fans had been fretting about the late kickoff, but they can now tune in at 7 p.m. local time when it should clock up huge ratings for the BBC, which has rights for the game. The latest England match vs. Congo on Monday scored a year-high 16.3 million peak audience.

In the U.S., the game is due to be shown on Fox, Fox One and the Fox Sports app, with Spanish-language commentary on Telemundo and Peacock. The new U.S. time would be 11 a.m. PST, if reports out of Mexico and the BBC are correct.

Brazil’s last-16 match with Norway is due to kick off at 1 p.m. PT/4 p.m. ET at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, so fans could have a double bill of big knockout games. FIFA might decide to delay the Brazil game if England-Mexico goes to extra time and/or penalties, but that remains to be seen. U.S. broadcasters and the NFL often delay the start of big NFL games if another game is a late finish to avoid audiences (and advertisers) missing out.

France’s group-stage World Cup game against Iraq was delayed for more than two hours because of safety concerns over bad weather in Philadelphia. FIFA rules state it has the right to “cancel, reschedule or relocate” matches “at its sole discretion.”

Mexico remains unbeaten in this year’s tournament and has won four out of four games without conceding a goal. England, which has been patchy so far, poses the sternest test yet for the co-hosts.

We’ll update with FIFA confirmation of changes once we get it.