England vs Mexico at Azteca: Kickoff, altitude and weather explained

England is set to face Mexico at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City for a World Cup knockout match. The game will kick off at 6 pm local time on Sunday, which is 1 am Monday in London. Despite initial reports of a potential kickoff time change due to weather concerns, FIFA decided to maintain the scheduled time. The Azteca Stadium's significant altitude, 2,240 meters above sea level, presents a major challenge for England, as the thinner air reduces oxygen availability, impacting player stamina and ball flight. England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged the difficulty of adapting to the altitude within the short turnaround between matches. Mexico has a strong historical record at the Azteca, having lost only two competitive games there.

Mexico's World Cup knockout match against England will proceed as scheduled on Saturday, kicking off at 6pm local time in Mexico City, according to sources who spoke to Al Jazeera. Reports suggesting a potential rescheduling to avoid inclement weather were not confirmed by FIFA. Mexican media had indicated a possible shift to a noon kickoff, which would have also impacted the timing of Brazil's match against Norway. While a previous match for Mexico against Ecuador was delayed due to rain, no decision was made to alter the England fixture's start time. An earlier kickoff could have exposed the teams to higher temperatures and stronger sunshine at the Estadio Azteca, compounded by the city's altitude.

FIFA is considering an earlier kickoff for the World Cup round of 16 match between Mexico and England in Mexico City on Sunday due to a forecast of afternoon thunderstorms. The game, scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at Azteca Stadium, could be moved to mitigate potential disruptions from flooding. This potential change has drawn criticism from Mexico's coach, Javier Aguirre, who expressed dissatisfaction with the need to alter planning. The rescheduling could also impact England's acclimatization to the high altitude of Mexico City, as they are due to arrive shortly before the match. No final decision has been made regarding the kickoff time.