Mexico vs England World Cup kickoff time unchanged after talks, ESPN sources say
ABC7 Los Angeles • • sports
Key Points:
- The World Cup match between Mexico and England will proceed as originally scheduled at 6 p.m. local time on Sunday at Azteca Stadium, despite concerns about adverse weather and calls for an earlier kickoff.
- The Mexican government had requested a noon kickoff to avoid potential thunderstorms, but FIFA, along with the Mexican Football Federation and English FA, opposed the change.
- Mexico coach Javier Aguirre expressed frustration over the potential time change, stating it would disrupt their preparations, but confirmed they would comply with FIFA's decision.
- England's team, arriving late Friday and training on Saturday, faces challenges acclimating to Azteca Stadium's high altitude (over 7,300 feet), which experts say requires significant adaptation time.
- England coach Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the altitude as a major disadvantage for his team, noting the limited time between matches makes proper acclimation impossible.
