The Mexico vs England World Cup round‑of‑16 match was scheduled to start at 8 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time in Mexico City) on Sunday, July 5, 2026 , but it was delayed by about one hour due to a thunderstorm at Estadio Azteca.

What happened with the start time?

  • Original kickoff: 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. Mexico City time (Monday 1 a.m. BST) on July 5 at Estadio Azteca.
  • Weather disruption: A severe thunderstorm rolled through the stadium area, prompting FIFA to push the kickoff back by roughly one hour.
  • Earlier rescheduling talks: Before match day, Mexican officials had even asked FIFA to move the game earlier (to around noon local) because of the storm forecast, but both the Mexican federation and England’s FA objected, so the original evening slot was kept.

Why the delay mattered

  • Altitude and conditions: The Azteca sits around 7,200 feet (≈2,200 m) above sea level, which already affects pace, stamina, and ball flight; adding heavy rain and lightning risk made safety the priority.
  • Broadcast and fan impact: A one‑hour delay shifted the live window for U.S. prime‑time viewers and late‑night/early‑morning audiences in the UK, which is why “updated start time” became a trending search topic on match day.

Quick reference (as reported on match day)

  • Competition: 2026 FIFA World Cup – Round of 16
  • Venue: Estadio Azteca, Mexico City
  • Planned kickoff: 8 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. local (July 5)
  • Actual situation: Delayed ~1 hour due to thunderstorm; new kickoff pushed into the 9 p.m. ET window.

If you’re checking a specific time zone or a replay schedule, tell me your city and I’ll convert it precisely. TL;DR: Mexico vs England was set for 8 p.m. ET on July 5 , then delayed about an hour because of a storm at the Azteca.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.