Arabic version: فيفا تعيد توقيت انطلاق مباراة إنجلترا والمكسيك الأصلي
According to BBC News,
England’s early morning World Cup match against Mexico will kick off as originally planned at 01:00 BST (18:00 local time) on Monday, after Fifa U-turned on a plan to bring it forward by six hours due to thunderstorms. Sources told BBC Sport on Friday evening the fixture at Mexico City Stadium had been set to be moved to 19:00 BST on Sunday – but within hours football’s governing body decided against it. The last-16 knockout match will not finish until 03:00 at the earliest and businesses, schools, and the emergency services are preparing accordingly.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Thursday pubs will be able to stay open until 05:00 which could spell a difficult Monday morning for many. More than 3,000 England fans are set to attend the fixture at the Azteca, which holds 87,000. Travel plans are often finalised months in advance, and changing them at short notice can be costly to supporters.
The decision to keep the original kick-off time has brought relief to fans like Owen Pickering, who expressed gratitude that the match would not interfere with travel arrangements. He noted that changing the time would have resulted in him and his family missing the game altogether.
While many pubs are gearing up for the late-night crowd, not all establishments are extending their hours. Greene King plans to keep more than 600 locations open late, while Wetherspoons has said only five of its more than 800 pubs will remain open for the match. The UK Bartender’s Guild emphasized the need for proper planning and consideration for staff working extended hours.
The late kick-off will also impact Monday morning routines, with some schools indicating they will open later to accommodate students who may stay up for the game. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that while she supports schools’ decisions, attendance remains important. The TUC encouraged employers to be flexible with workers’ schedules, acknowledging the disruption caused by the late match.
