Decision made on England vs Mexico World Cup match kick-off time amid fears of delays
England versus Mexico has already been a dramatic encounter without even kicking off.
Thomas Tuchel's side have arrived in Mexico City ahead of their World Cup last 16 tie with the co-host and are already up against it as they were given a warm welcome of boos and jeers from locals as they checked into their hotel.
The FA have been reviewing security measures around their stay after the Ecuadorian Football Federation complained to FIFA about Mexico fans keeping their players up all night with loud noise before their last 32 elimination.
The Three Lions will also be competing at high altitude with little time to prepare and their fans will be vastly outnumbered at the Azteca.
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If things couldn't get any more dramatic, the kick-off time of the match itself was thrown into doubt on Friday night, all for nothing, as it turned out.
England vs Mexico World Cup kick-off time confirmed
After hours of uncertainty, England vs Mexico will (hopefully, depending on the weather) kick-off at its initially scheduled time, as if nothing has happened.
Yet, for hours, everything appeared up in the air.
First coming to light in Mexican media and then widely reported by the English press, it emerged on Friday that FIFA were considering bringing the kick-off time of the game forward by six hours in an unprecedented move.
The match is scheduled to get underway at 6pm in Mexico City, which is 1am in the United Kingdom, with pubs already being given permission to stay open until 5am for fans to be able to watch it together.
However, FIFA held talks with the English and Mexican football associations after proposing to move the kick-off to 12pm local time, or 7pm in the UK.
While the earlier kick-off would have suited those of us watching back home and led to a much more productive Monday, it immediately sparked fears around the impact on player preparation as well as fan travel, with many expected to fly into Mexico City on Sunday morning ahead of the late afternoon kick-off.
Multiple weather forecasts have predicted thunderstorms between the hours of 5pm-7pm in Mexico City, which could lead the game being delayed if the conditions are severe enough.
Mexico's 2-0 win over Ecuador on Wednesday at the Azteca was delayed an hour due to heavy rain fall.
However, the BBC reports FIFA did not give any reasoning for why it suggested bringing the match forward.
The kick-off time remained uncertain for a number of hours, though FIFA maintain a decision had not been made, after the reports emerged, but it has now been confirmed that it will kick off at the originally scheduled time of 6pm (1am BST).
Looks like a late night visit to the pub is back on the menu.
LADbible Group has approached FIFA for comment.
Reaction to England kick-off time potentially changing
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre did not seem happy at all with the proposed kick-off change, and appeared to suggest the game had been moved.
He told radio station Grupo Formula: "We have to change everything.
"It's not that [Mexico's preparation] is completely ruined but almost, because you have to swallow six hours that you had programmed.
"Obviously, we will comply with Fifa. I don't like it at all, and neither do my players."
"They didn't even ask for my opinion. Fifa organises, Fifa decides, and I comply.
"We adapt, there are no excuses, and we have to play and win."
Though FA officials were reportedly 'incensed' at the proposal, feeling that it was too late for the game to be rescheduled, England's stars appeared unfazed.
Playmaker Morgan Rogers said: "We'll be ready regardless of the time. We're looking forward to it whatever the time is."
Daniel Murphy