England-Mexico World Cup Match Changes Time To Earlier Kickoff: Report

UPDATE 4.20PM PT: It’s now being widely reported — including by BBC and most Mexican outlets, which have confirmed with FIFA sources — that the game will remain at its original kickoff time. FIFA’s intention to change the time seemingly led to fury in the England and Mexican camps. As you were.

UPDATE: 3PM PT: Hold your horses. Following fury from the English and Mexican Football Associations, FIFA may have to backtrack on its apparent plan to move the time of the England-Mexico game. The BBC has now updated its reporting to say that FIFA was on the verge of announcing the change but is now locked in talks with the respective camps. This comes after dozens of leading Mexican sports outlets reported the time change — after apparent briefing — as did the BBC, which has rights to the game in the UK. Even Mexico’s coach believed the time was changing, per an interview with local media. Now the picture looks much more uncertain and the sounds from multiple reporters across the story are that we could be as you were. Messy. More when we have it.

EARLIER: 12:30pm PT: The anticipated World Cup round-of-16 match between England and Mexico in Mexico City on Sunday looks set to move its 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 Sunday — a move that 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 to the game. The latest England match, a round-of-32 victory over DR Congo on Monday, scored a year-high 16.3 million peak audience.

In the U.S., the England-Mexico 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. kickoff time would be 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, if reports out of Mexico and the BBC are correct.

Brazil’s last-16 match with Norway is due to kick off Sunday at 4 p.m. ET/ 1 p.m. PT at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, so fans could have a double bill of big knockout games. Multiple soccer writers are reporting on social media that this game could also move time, shifting an hour later, potentially due to weather, but also possibly due to the potential overlap with the England-Mexico game. FIFA has yet to confirm. 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.

Earlier in this World Cup, France’s group-stage 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.