Prime Minister Keir Starmer is claimed to have intervened to prevent FIFA from moving forward the kick-off time for England's World Cup last-16 match against Mexico. The alleged intervention came amid fears that Mexico sought to gain an advantage by altering the schedule.
Reports emerged approximately 54 hours before the match, which was scheduled to take place at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City, that FIFA was considering a last-minute change to an earlier kick-off. These considerations were reportedly due to forecasts of extreme weather and safety concerns for fans. The proposed change would have moved the match start time to 7 p.m. UK time on Sunday.
Ultimately, the game began an hour later than its scheduled 1 a.m. UK time on Monday, following thunderstorms in the local area. Following England's 3-2 victory, claims surfaced that Starmer played a significant role in blocking the earlier start.
Sources suggest that Starmer opposed the six-hour shift in kick-off time, suspecting that Mexico aimed to disrupt England's preparations by reducing their acclimatization time to the altitude. The Azteca stadium is situated at 2,240 meters above sea level, and concerns had been raised about England's ability to adapt to the conditions.
However, insiders at Downing Street have downplayed suggestions of direct intervention from Starmer. According to these accounts, the FA alerted the Prime Minister to the issue and explained the potential complications, leading to the government's involvement through diplomatic channels, rather than Starmer instructing the FA to stand firm.
Concerns were also raised that a significantly earlier kick-off could have prevented many England supporters from attending the match. Two flights carrying fans from Atlanta, where England's previous game was held, were scheduled to land in Mexico City on Sunday, with the later flight arriving at 11:55 a.m. local time. An earlier kick-off would have made it difficult for these fans to reach the Azteca stadium in time for the match, which had an official allocation of 3,000 tickets for the England Supporters' Travel Club.