Why Mexico vs England has been delayed in the Last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026

Mexico vs England has moved to a new start time.

The sides are set to clash in the Last 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico.

Mexico vs England delayed due to weather concerns

UK fans are set for a very late night indeed. The fixture, which was originally scheduled to begin at 1 AM on British shores, has been moved back an hour to 2 AM. To make matters worse, even this time isn’t set in stone.

Much has been made of the extreme altitude at the Azteca, with the stadium standing at 7220 feet above sea level. But now, the storyline has changed to the weather conditions, with thunderstorms swarming the area.

FIFA issued the following statement: “Due to adverse weather conditions in Mexico City, including risk caused by lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the kick-off of the World Cup 2026 round of 16 match between Mexico and England has been delayed to 19.00 local time (21:00 EDT) [2 AM UK time].

“The safety and security of all individuals is Fifa’s priority. We thank all fans for their understanding and cooperation.”

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In theory, delays can continue indefinitely, with FIFA retaining the right to cancel, reschedule or relocate matches at its own discretion. The rules state that any lightning strike detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue will result in a half-hour delay.

Then, if another strike is picked during this period, the clock goes back to the start. Once 30 minutes have gone by without any nearby lightning strikes, players are given 15 minutes to warm up before the game starts.

Who are the only two teams to have defeated Mexico at the Azteca? 

Mexico have turned the Azteca into a fortress, with the team having proven to be virtually unbeatable on home turf.

However, while many countries have tried and failed to come out on top, a couple have succeeded.

These are the two teams that have beaten Mexico at the Azteca.

Featured Image Credit: Getty