England have been left stunned by FIFA's decision to bring their Round of 16 clash with Mexico forward20:57, 03 Jul 2026Updated 21:08, 03 Jul 2026England star Marcus Rashford has described the Round of 16 kickoff change against Mexico as 'not ideal'. While Morgan Rogers has viewed the sudden and shocking alteration as another obstacle for the Three Lions to overcome.‌Football Association (FA) bosses have been left in the dark over FIFA's decision to bring the clash with Mexico forward to 7pm amid the risk of flooding, thunderstorms and adverse weather conditions at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.‌England had been due to lock horns with the co-hosts at 1am GMT, but reports emerged on Friday evening that tournament organisers had concocted plans to bring the kick-off forward several hours.‌Get the latest World Cup news straight to your inbox by signing up to our Make Football Great Again newsletter now!Rashford said: "I think for us it's the same how we prepare for the game. We have to be focused. We have to be ready for anything. I think it's one of our strengths as a group."Everyone, including the players and staff... we are ready for whatever challenges get thrown at us. So obviously it's not ideal but also it doesn't really matter."‌Aston Villa playmaker Rogers has been a impact substitute off the bench for Thomas Tuchel's side in the opening four matches. He has been forced to play deputy to Real Madrid powerhouse Jude Bellingham. England's preparations for the clash with Mexico have been overshadowed by the altitude that faces the Three Lions with the Azteca 2,200 metres above sea-level.The co-hosts are also threatening to make it a hostile welcome for the 1966 World Cup winners. Mexico have already been the subject of a complaint from Ecuador for their gamesmanship on the eve of their Round of 32 encounter when supporters took the streets overnight to disrupt their preparations but Rogers sees it as "just another obstacle to overcome".He said: "We'll take it how it is. Whatever it is, whatever the task is in front of us, whatever problem we face, or different things that might be a bit difficult, we're just going to attack it full front and be ready as a whole team and be together and talk through what can help us, what can be difficult, and just try and overcome it."‌The protocols surrounding electrical storms are based upon recommendations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), as opposed to tournament organisers FIFA. According to their guidelines, matches must be halted and suspended if there is a discharge detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium.Players and staff will then be forced to exit the pitch while supporters are advised to find shelter at the stadium. With the Azteca design not possessing a retractable roof, spectators could be at risk. For the game to restart, there must be no further lightning strikes detected within that eight-mile radius of the venue for a full 30 minutes.After 30 minutes, if there is no further disruption, fans can return to their seats, and players will return to the pitch for a 15-minute warm-up before the game restarts. The decision to change England's kick-off time is also said to have a knock-on effect on the other Round of 16 encounter between Brazil and Norway.Article continues belowErling Haaland and Gabriel's bitter reunion could be moved back an hour due to extreme heat in New York. The National Weather Service has forecast disruption during the Fourth of July weekend celebrations with Philadelphia and Washington DC expected to reach 104F (40C) and 103F, respectively.Content cannot be displayed without consent