Need to knowEngland face Mexico in the last 16 of the World Cup, with the match kicking off at a difficult time for supporters back home12:53, 05 Jul 2026Updated 12:55, 05 Jul 2026England fans watching the World Cup back home in the UK will have to stay up late for the match against Mexico(Image: Shutterstock)Why is England vs Mexico kicking off so late?Tournament bracket rules: The World Cup relies on a rigid tournament bracket where teams are assigned specific match slots based on their group stage finishes. This means England's progression naturally dropped them into a predetermined late-night fixture slot, regardless of the participating nations.The time difference: A major factor causing the late UK kick-off is the significant seven-hour time difference between Britain and Mexico City. When it is early evening in the host nation, it is already the middle of the night back in England.Original match schedule: The highly anticipated match was always slated to start at 6pm in the evening local time on Sunday at the the Azteca. Consequently, this translates to a gruelling 1:00am start on Monday morning for fans watching back home in the UK.Weather disruption fears: FIFA recently considered bringing the match forward by six hours to avoid adverse weather conditions. Organisers were highly concerned about the threat of severe electrical thunderstorms and potential flooding around the stadium later in the day.U-turn: However, after an intense backlash, the decision was made to keep the match in its original kick off time. That means an early – or late – start for football fans wishing to watch the match in England.More weather issues: That might not be the end of the weather problems, however. FIFA's tournament rule dictates that any lightning strikes detected within an eight mile radius of a stadium will result in a mandatory 30-minute delay to play. This resets every time there is another lightning strike. That means that any adverse weather before – or during – the game, could see the game delayed further into the UK early morning. Crucially, storms are forecast throughout the afternoon and evening in the Mexican capital.Late night viewing: Because the game is firmly locked into the 1:00am slot, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has authorised British pubs to stay open until 5:00am. This late-night extension promises a massive financial boost for the UK hospitality industry while fans stay up to cheer on the Three Lions.READ MORE: Inside England's Mexico kick-off farce: FIFA's leaked talk and logistical nightmareContent cannot be displayed without consent