World Cup presenters in Mexico give worrying update amid delay fears
They say patience is a virtue, and apparently, football fans tuning into England and Mexico's game are going to need plenty of it.
The Three Lions are vying for a spot in the 2026 World Cup quarter finals and hope to thrash their rivals at the Estadio Azteca in the early hours of Monday (6 July) morning.
But according to football pundits on the ground in Mexico City, there is 'no way' that the match will kick off at 1am UK time as planned.
Thomas Tuchel’s team have had plenty of curveballs thrown their way ahead of the high-stakes bout, and the location of the game has a lot to do with it.
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The climate in Mexico City is set to really put the lads through their paces, as the country's capital sits 7,349 feet (2,240 metres) above sea level - and they haven't had time to adapt to the altitude.
England coach Tuchel previously pointed out that this gives Mexico 'a huge advantage', but said it's just something they are going to 'have to deal with'.
After his players trained in these conditions for the first time following their arrival in Mexico City on Friday (3 July), Tuchel admitted that they 'felt' the impact of the high altitude.
Tuchel said he had a 'slight headache' and 'didn't sleep as well', but added: "I think the players felt it in the first minutes of the training session and the longer it went, they could cope with it better. It is just what it is.
"We cannot physically adapt. It is just impossible."
And that's without mentioning the weather - which could plunge the game into crisis if it doesn't play ball.
Fixtures in the 2026 World Cup have been adapted here and there to accommodate extreme conditions, such as scorching heat and thunder storms.
Games are subject to delay dependent on what's going on outdoors, and tonight is no different - as there is heavy rain forecast and potential for the sky to start rumbling.
According to BBC Weather presenter Simon King, the 'heat and humidity won't be a problem' for England, as temperatures are expected to be around 19C.
However, there is a risk that some of the showers 'could turn thundery in the lead up to kick off', which is at 6pm local time.
"While it's difficult to predict the exact location and time of any of these thunderstorms, if one does pop up in the vicinity of the Azteca, that could delay or pause the match," he warned. "The risk of thunderstorms does diminish though as you go through the evening and the match."
FIFA also has a rule which forces matches to be suspended for a minimum of 30 minutes if lightning or electrical activity is detected with an eight-mile radius of an open-roofed stadium.
If no further lightning strikes in that period, the game can resume once the players are ready. However, if electrical activity is detected before the time has elapsed, the clock will restart once more.
The possible timeline
As it stands, England's clash against Mexico should wrap up at around 3am if kick off goes as planned - but it could tick on until near 5am if it goes to extra-time, a penalty shoot-out or if there are any weather-related delays.
And according to talkSPORT presenter Olivia Buzaglo, Brits better brace to be in for the long haul.
She warned fans to expect the start time of the game to be pushed back after the weather she has seen so far.
In a post shared on X on Saturday (4 July), Buzaglo wrote: "Being in Mexico City, you can understand why they wanted to change the kick off time. It’s nearly 5pm here and it is absolutely hammering it down. Like properly.
"Absolutely no way the game kicks off at 6pm tomorrow. There’s been about 15 lightning bolts in half an hour."
Vlogger Paul Brown, who is in Mexico City to support England, also shared some frightening footage of the weather in a social media post.
While parading around in a sombrero as it absolutely lashed it down, he said in a short clip: "Mexico weather, torrential rain, they did predict it! This is why they wanted to move the time of the game…
"The Mexican weather is crazy - grey, then sunny, and then it rains and Mexico City is flooded. The weather is kicking off here. I’ve never heard thunder like it."
At least the UK has more than prepare the England lads for a bit of rain, eh?
Olivia Burke