Sir Keir Starmer intervened to prevent FIFA from bringing forward the kick-off time for England’s World Cup match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca, citing concerns that the change could give the Mexican team an unfair advantage. The UK government’s involvement followed warnings from the Football Association (FA) that an earlier start, proposed to avoid anticipated lightning storms, would reduce England’s preparation time to acclimatize to the stadium’s high altitude.
The proposed alteration would have moved the kick-off from 1 a.m. to 7 p.m. British Summer Time on Sunday. However, Starmer, working through diplomatic channels, opposed the change, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the original schedule to ensure a level playing field. Speaking at a reception in Downing Street, Starmer described the effort to keep the kick-off time unchanged as a “battle” alongside the FA.
Despite concerns about storms in Mexico City, the match was eventually delayed by about an hour, starting closer to 2 a.m. BST. England went on to win the game 3-2, securing a place in the quarter-finals against Norway.
The intervention came amid heightened tensions surrounding political influences in the tournament. Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he personally contacted FIFA president Gianni Infantino to request a review of the red card issued to U.S. striker Folarin Balogun during a separate match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The suspension was subsequently overturned, allowing Balogun to continue in the tournament. UEFA criticized this decision, calling it “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” and expressed concern that such actions undermine the integrity and credibility of the competition.
Ahead of the match, the UK government had also taken steps to accommodate fans, including emergency legislation to allow pubs to remain open late and some employers granting time off to enable supporters to watch the game. Data from Heineken UK indicated a significant rise in sales at managed pubs on the night of the match, with food and drink purchases sharply increasing during the peak viewing period.
The episode highlights ongoing scrutiny over external influences on World Cup proceedings and the logistical challenges posed by playing matches at high-altitude venues with variable weather conditions.