England vs Mexico weather forecast: Will game be hit by storm delays? | OneFootball

Fears over more inclement conditions in Mexico City led to talks over kick-off time being moved

The Three Lions face the co-hosts in a high-profile last-16 clash at the Estadio Azteca on Sunday night, with a place in the quarter-finals against either Brazil or Norway in Miami on July 11 on the line.

The game was scheduled for a 1am kick-off time in the UK and 6pm local time, though that was thrown into chaos on Friday night after suggestions that it could be moved late by FIFA as a result of concerns over more projected thunderstorms and heavy rain set to hit Mexico City this weekend.

It looked as if the game was likely to be brought forward to a much earlier 12pm window, which would have been a far more palatable 7pm start for fans in the UK. However, it later transpired that the match would remain in its original slot, with plenty of anger, confusion and bemusement caused by the uncertainty.

FIFA are set to continue 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 thunderstorms.

It was the second game at this World Cup so far to be impacted by the weather, following last weekend’s Group I meeting between France and Iraq in Philadelphia, which was delayed by more than two hours due to thunder and lightning.

England’s warm-up friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando last month also had a one-hour delay to kick-off as the result of storms and persistent rain.

England vs Mexico weather forecast

The current weather forecast for Sunday in Mexico City is for cloudy conditions and occasional rain through most of the morning and afternoon, with a top temperature of around 24 degrees.

However, thunderstorms and heavy rain amid high humidity are then expected to arrive around an hour before kick-off at 5pm local time, continuing through 6pm until settling down thereafter.

If that were to be the case, then it seems very likely indeed that England vs Mexico could well be either delayed ahead of kick-off or suspended once it has already got underway.

The policy on extreme weather at this World Cup mirrors that seen at the Club World Cup in the United States last summer, with delays and suspensions caused if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.

If that occurs, then players, coaches and officials must all return to their dressing rooms and fans told to evacuate the stands in search of safe shelter.

A 30-minute countdown is then started, during which time the aforementioned area must be completely clear of lightning before the match can proceed or resume.

If more lightning is recorded, then the clock is reset every time until there is a full half-an-hour period without any.

Players will then return for a short warm-up before a resumption time is confirmed.