FA chief executive Mark Bullingham directly contacted UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to prevent England's World Cup match against Mexico from being rescheduled to an earlier kick-off time. The intervention came amid concerns that the proposed change could have provided the co-hosts with an unfair advantage and disrupted England's preparations.
Starmer, described as a keen football fan, reportedly instructed officials to oppose the plan to move the match forward by six hours from its scheduled 1 a.m. UK time start. Sources indicated that while security and weather were cited as reasons for the potential alteration, some suspected the move was intended to maximize disruption for the English team.
The FA's primary concern, according to insiders, was the reliability of the weather and safety information justifying such a significant schedule shift with less than 48 hours' notice. They were also focused on minimizing disruption for travelling supporters who had already made costly arrangements.
An earlier kick-off could have negatively impacted England's planning, potentially exposing players to higher temperatures and the effects of altitude at the Azteca Stadium, located 7,200 feet above sea level. Head coach Thomas Tuchel had expressed concerns about the situation.
When the England team departed their Kansas City base camp for Mexico City, the exact start time of the match remained uncertain. Reports suggest the schedule change was nearly finalized before objections were raised. Upon arrival, the team learned that the start time would not be moved.
FA insiders noted that communication between the FA and government officials is a regular occurrence during major tournaments. Ultimately, the match on Sunday evening was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms, with England securing a 3-2 victory. They are scheduled to play Norway in the quarter-finals.
Starmer reportedly remarked at a Downing Street reception that the effort to keep the match at its original time required a significant push with the FA. Despite the scheduling drama, the match saw an estimated 10,000 England fans in attendance with only one arrest for an unrelated matter. Both local fans and visiting supporters reportedly praised the hospitality received.