Sunday’s Mexico–England showdown at Estadio Ciudad de México has stirred up a storm of conversation — and not just about what happens on the field. Security around the Three Lions’ hotel and the widely discussed possibility of changing the kickoff time became major talking points heading into the game.

FIFA had floated moving the kickoff from 6:00 p.m. ET to noon, a proposal that immediately caused friction inside both federations — Mexico’s FMF and England’s FA. Neither side supported the change, and FIFA initially claimed the adjustment was due to “challenging weather conditions.”

But on Saturday, The Athletic and The New York Times reported that excessive weather was never the real concern.

According to The Athletic, anonymous FIFA sources admitted the push to move the match earlier was driven by worries about fan safety. The outlet reported that officials feared a nighttime kickoff would allow an entire day of drinking and partying to spill directly into the match — raising concerns about what could unfold later that evening after the final whistle.

BBC denies involvement in proposed schedule change

Another rumor suggested the BBC had asked FIFA to shift the match to secure a prime‑time slot in the U.K. on Sunday. But The Athletic says the British broadcaster flatly denied any involvement.

“The BBC did not take part in these conversations,” the network said in an official statement.

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