Will England vs Mexico go ahead and what happens if the game is abandoned? | OneFootball

FIFA have a plan in place if World Cup last-16 showdown at the Estadio Azteca faces further disruption

England’s World Cup last-16 clash against Mexico will have to be restarted on a future date, if FIFA are left with no choice but to abandon the game.

The Three Lions are in Mexico City for a showdown with the co-hosts, though the build up to the game has been overshadowed by fears that kick-off could be delayed by thunderstorms.

The weather forecast for Sunday in the city is for cloudy conditions and bouts of rain through the morning and early afternoon, with a top temperature of around 25 degrees.

As things stand, the game is scheduled to go ahead. A 1am BST kick-off time in the UK on Monday morning (6pm local time) remains in place after suggestions that it could be moved by FIFA.

However, isolated thunderstorms amid high humidity are expected to move in from around 3pm, potentially continuing intermittently through the evening past 7pm.

In this scenario, the likelihood is that England vs Mexico clash will be either delayed ahead of kick-off or suspended once it has already started.

If the game is suspended then FIFA safety protocols state that “if there is lightning within a six-mile radius, supporters and teams will be prevented from entering the stadium.

What happens if England vs Mexico is abandoned?

As per the BBC, if FIFA has no choice but to abandon the game if conditions at the Estadio Azteca are not improving, then World Cup regulations state that the game would be played on a future date, restarting in the same minute as it was paused, with the remaining minutes played.

For example, if England vs Mexico is stopped on in the 88th minute, the players would return to play the remaining two minutes and stoppage time.

FIFA would also decide the date but it would almost certainly be the next day because of the tight nature of the fixture schedule and with the winners due to play the quarter-final on July 11.

FIFA's ruling regarding a World Cup fixture being abandoned is as follows:

a) The match shall recommence at the minute at which play was interrupted rather than being replayed in full, and with the same scoreline

The match shall recommence where play was stopped when the match was interrupted (e.g. with a free kick, throw‑in, goal kick, corner kick, penalty kick, etc.). If the match was abandoned while the ball was still in play, it shall restart with a dropped ball from the position of the ball when play was stopped.

b) The match shall recommence with the same players on the pitch and substitutes available as when the match was abandoned.

c) No additional substitutes may be added to the list of players on the start list.

d) The teams can make only the number of substitutions to which they were still entitled when the match was abandoned.

e) Players sent off during the abandoned match cannot be replaced.

f) Any disciplinary measures imposed before the match was abandoned will be dealt with in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary Code.

g) The kick‑off time, date, location and any other matter shall be decided by FIFA.

FIFA are continuing to closely monitor the weather, after kick-off in Mexico’s 2-0 last-32 win over Ecuador at the same venue on Tuesday was delayed for an hour as the result of thunder and lightning.