Mexico v England: World Cup 2026 last 16 kick-off time delayed by an hour – live

Key events

Weather watch

If I’m reading this forecast correctly, we’re expecting 1.17 inches of rain – or very close to 3cm – to fall during the game if it starts at 7 pm in Mexico City (9 pm Eastern, 6pm Pacific, 11 am Australian Eastern Standard Time, 2 am British Summer Time).

Mexico's players greet fans as they warm up. Photograph: Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

Reuven Fletcher: “If there IS more lighting and the game is delayed by another hour til 3am in the UK will people be thrown out of the pub as penalties are about to take place? This would be highly amusing. BoxPark etc emptying and pints left un-chucked. This would compensate for further delay tbh.”

Jonathan Dawe: “Too young for the 1959 game, but did go to the 1966 version for my first ever England game. Also went to ENG-FRA, FRA-MEX, ENG-ARG, ENG-POR, POR-Soviet Union, and the final. Not too many memories, but double celebrity sighting at the final. Peter Cook and Dudley Moore were sitting in the row in front of me and my dad. Now living in Tampa, I did see the NZ match the other week, but prices too high for a senior citizen to attend.”

Speakeasy Ray: “I am half English, half Mexican - been waiting for a match of this magnitude for several decades. The delay just heightens it. Can’t wait.”

Kári Tulinius: “Icelandic television just switched to the feed from the Azteca. Even half-empty with 80s pop music blaring, this is the platonic ideal of a football stadium. And that’s not even taking into account its history, Pelé and Maradona and all that. If football has a home, and I tend to fall into the camp that thinks football’s home is everywhere, but if it does have a home, the Azteca is its home. What a stadium! Now let’s hope there’s a match today.”

Nico O’Reilly and Jude Bellingham step out onto the pitch. Photograph: Michael Regan/FIFA/Getty Images

The rain is starting to fall in the Azteca but spirits remain high. The fans are having a karaoke battle. Mexican pop followed by classic British tunes. Oasis was roundly booed by the locals, but in an interesting twist Blur was met with more warmth. Kick-off remains due to take place at 7pm local. The players remain indoors. We haven’t seen them yet. There’s training equipment laid out in England’s half of the pitch but none of it’s been touched.

Fans in the lower tiers are starting to head inside.

Thomas Tuchel walks out of the tunnel as the rain falls. Photograph: Eddie Keogh/The FA/Getty Images

More mail

Justin Kavanagh: “As an Irishman, can I extend my best wishes to the English as they sit and stew in this epic stadium anticipating the battle. While they wait, maybe they can maybe reflect that this arena (real name: Azteca) is named after a people who would haul captives to the top of their stepped temples before cutting out the hearts as human sacrifices; they would then let the still-beating hearts bounce down the steps to the masses below. They also used to play a type of early football with the heads of the defeated. Or was that the Incas? Well, either way, something to think about while they wait out the thunder and lightning. Nothing to fear at all, then, lads.”

The NASL had a team called the Los Angeles Aztecs. Elton John was a part-owner. George Best and Johan Cruyff played for them at some point.

Lee Carney: “As an English kid who moved to Australia when I was 10 in 1988 I am not having all these English complaints about the kick-off time, and especially annoyed at people talking about not watching it live, I not only had to endure all those penalty shoot-out losses, but I endured them all at 3am or 5am or similar, if you’re a true fan you will get up or stay up and watch it live!”

Yeah! Or follow The Guardian’s live coverage.

Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo: “Normally Latin American teams will cheer for each other in a World Cup with maybe the exception of Brazil and Argentina. However, after the reception we received in Mexico last week, Ecuadorian WhatsApp is filled with memes about how all 18 million of us are converted England supporters. In the end, our team didn’t show up. Nonetheless, the fact that The authorities allowed for those pregame shenanigans to happen feels like an injustice.”

Welcome to Concacaf.

Andrew Goudie: “It’s the first time in world cup history that three different players have scored seven goals in a tournament. What’s more, Haaland missed a game and Argentina haven’t played in this round yet!”

I can’t think of a time in which the big-name players have done so much to justify the hype.

Dave Hogg: “Any MBM readers who have visited Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park will understand the English team’s dilemma. Both are at an elevation of 2,240 meters or 7,350 feet. Of course, they would have to play a full 90 minutes to get the full effect.”

Phil Withall: “The delay in the kick-off is most welcome, going to the pub at 11 in the morning is slightly more respectable than 10. Thank you Mexican weather for avoiding my shame.”

Robi Polgar: (Re: Basketball twins) “When I was a wee lad, living in Phoenix (“The Valley of the Sun”), the local NBA team had the identical Van Arsdale twins: Tom and Dick. I don’t know if they had a younger brother named Harry.”

The University of Virginia’s women’s team had Heather and Heidi Burge. One of them said her favorite quote was, “Hey Heidi … I mean … Heather … whoever you are, get in for your sister.”

Peter Rehwaldt (who also sends Peter Oh his applause for the Kansas City reference): “Will Gianni Infantino overrule the local Mexico City officials and issue an order suspending the ruling to delay the start of the England-Mexico match, in order to protect the television ratings in the US and elsewhere? Sure, the rule *says* local authorities have the final word, but there are rules and then there are rules, amiright?”

I think they should just skip the intermediaries and declare the thunderstorm over.

David Harris: “Before we get started with a depressing 90+3 Mexico winner, can I just express my thanks to all publicans and, more importantly, their staff, up and down the land, for their sterling efforts over the next hours plus one?”

Tip your wait staff.

Weather check

As far as I can tell from various weather outlets, it seems the good news is that the thunder and lightning will subside.

The bad news is that it’ll really start raining at that point.

A few more from people who’ve seen some of the historic games mentioned below.

Brian Draper: “A quick question re superstition protocol tonight. The last time England were at the Azteca for a World Cup game 40 years ago, I was a spotty 17-year-old watching at a mate’s house over the road. I’ve just realised I’ve been in constant WhatsApp contact with said mate Chris during this tournament, after all these years, and our proximity tonight, albeit on-line, could prove very bad luck for the boys. Just wanted to alert anyone else who may need to avoid any similar pitfalls which reach us back to the hand of God in 1986. Break the link!”

Lawrence Whyte: “While I did not see the England Mexico game in 1959 I remember my granddad being disappointed. Same granddad took me to the final at Wembley in 1966 - what a day! Fast forward 20 years and I took my 6 year old son to Mexico City and we watched Diego Maradona’s hand of God goal right in front of us. Now with 2 sons I was also at the game where Beckham fouled Simeone and got sent off. Now living in the US I saw the England v Croatia game with my now 3 children. Sadly tickets are just too expensive to see any more games live. It’s been a thrill watching England all these years and will watch tonight’s game at the Azteca with baited breath.”

Daniel Jeffreys: “I was alive for all of those 50s and 60s Mexico games and especially remember the 2-0 victory at Wembley in 1966. I recall that the black and white TV transmission made the Mexican team look very sinister in what appeared to be an all black kit. There was much relief when Charlton banged in the first goal from distance after England’s first error to reach the net was disallowed. Maybe Kane can channel Charlton in the Azteca tonight.

“One evening, months after England had won the World Cup, Bristol Rovers Supporters Club showed a film at the old Eastville Stadium of England’s 1966 journey including the final in full. I was 11 and me and my mate Phillip Cross snuck out onto the darkened field while the adults watched the Wembley triumph in reverence. With a frayed tennis ball me and Phil re-enacted the wins over Mexico, Argentina, Portugal, and West Germany on the old Eastville pitch, recreating every shot and goal – including the disputed England one under the crossbar – until we got caught by a watchman who, hearing what we were doing, let us carry on and stayed to watch our shadow play with the looming gasometers (Up the Gas!) as our backdrop.

“Back then footballers like Hurst and Styles and Banks could be created from intense matches with tennis balls on wet asphalt playgrounds. Maybe we have lost that culture and perhaps that’s why we are still waiting to win a second star. And maybe what we also need is more of the analog imagination that had me and Phillip Cross feeling like we were playing in sunlight before 100,000 under the dismal Eastville skies.”

Storm delay mailbag

Nicholas Way: “So we have Konsa and Quansah? That’s not at all confusing, is it?”

Ever seen a basketball game with twins on the same team?

Paul Griffin: “As an Englishman I started to worry about this might not a good night for us, so I decided to watch the Guardian’s coverage of the Tour de France as a distraction. Now I am much more confident and don’t see any harbingers of Mexicans triumphing over Europeans at altitude.”

Tim Stappard: “Let’s stop already with the altitude excuses. Please.”

I’m not English, so I’ll plead … on whatever amendment to the Constitution I can plead.

Vlado: “Hi Beau! I’m a neutral here so I don’t really know which team to pick. England are, let’s be charitable, not quite the neutrals’ favorites across the globe, though this England team are hardly the Galactic Empire. Mexico, on the other hand – do they count as lovable underdogs? I’m not really feeling the Cape Verde vibe. Any advice on who to cheer on their way to being cheerfully crushed by Erling Haaland?”

Mary Waltz: “FIFA and Trump are identical twins. Rules and ethics are for losers. I am an American and I want the USMNT to win. I thought it was a red. But don’t confuse Trump’s corruption with most Americans.”

Have the USA surrendered their lovable underdog status with the political currents swirling around the Balogun reinstatement?

Mac Millings: “Considering all the talk surrounding how high Mexico City is, what better time than this to present my All-Time Elevation XI? Breathless Sealey, Johnny Heightinga, Peako Lopes, Elevasean Dyche, Luwheeze Figo, Andes Townsend, Mason Mountain, Alex Oxygen Chamber-lain, Jozy Altitude, Brahimalayas Díaz, Shane Lung.”

Tim Highward, maybe?

Thomas Preston: “I was just wondering if anyone had an idea about how many fans in England are actually going to stay up and watch the match live. And what the threshold is in order to please the footballing Gods and secure the win?”

US fans packed bars in the overnight hours in 2002. Seemed to help.

Peter Oh: “With the winds of the World Cup having swept the England team from their base to a colorful stadium in another land, I can’t help but wonder what their main character will say upon arrival. ‘Tuchel, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas City anymore!’”

Kickoff delayed one hour

Will update with any further news.

The match is delayed an hour. Photograph: José Méndez/EPA

Lineups

England (4-2-3-1): Pickford; O’Reilly, Guéhi, Konsa, Quansah; Rice, Anderson; Gordon, Bellingham, Saka; Kane

Subs: D. Henderson, Trafford, Stones, Spence, James, Burn, Chabolah, Madueke, Rashford, Rogers, J. Henderson, Mainoo, Eze, Watkins, Toney

Mexico (4-3-3): Rangel; Gallardo, Montes, Vásquez, Sánchez; Romo, Lira, Mora; Quiñones, Jiménez, Alvarado

Subs: Acevedo, Ochoa, Alvarez, Reyes, M. Chávez, Fidalgo, Pineda, Vargas, L. Chávez, Gutiérrez, Vega, Giménez, González, Huerta, Martínez

For England, Quansah is once again available (see below) and replaces Spence. The others changes from the starting XI against DR Congo are on the wings – Gordon for Rashford on the left, Saka for Madueke on the right.

Mexico make no changes from the side that beat Ecuador 2-0.

Morgan Rogers and Jude Bellingham arrive at the stadium. Photograph: Julian Finney/FIFA/Getty Images

England have now arrived at the stadium! Boos ring out inside this extraordinary bowl as Tuchel, Kane & Co are pictured on the big screen getting off the team bus.

Mexico are here now. Their team bus arrives to plumes of green smoke. Excitement is rising fast!

The England team bus arrives at the stadium. Photograph: James Manning/PA

Head to head

Mexico won their first matchup against England. If you were alive to see it, I’d love to hear from you. It was in 1959.

England took emphatic revenge two years later with an 8-0 win. Next up was a World Cup matchup in 1966, and England won 2-0 en route to its only World Cup championship.

Mexico got results in the next two infrequent matchups – 0-0 in 1969, 1-0 in 1985 (see previous post). Since then, England have won four straight, all by at least two goals.

Preamble

There’s a scene from an old episode of Family Guy positing a Rocky film sometime in the future, in which Adrian pleads with Rocky once again not to put himself in harm’s way in the ring.

“Rocky, please don’t go to Mars and fight the Martian.”

“I gotta do what I gotta do.”

“But there’s no oxygen on Mars!”

“Yeah? That means there’s no oxygen for him, either.”

Insert England into the Rocky role here. They’re going into one of world football’s most legendary cauldrons, the Azteca - I mean, Mexico City Stadium.

Consider this: The highest point in England is Scafell Pike in Cumbria. The elevation is 978 meters, or 3,209 feet. It does not have a soccer field.

The Az- ... Mexico City Stadium is at 2,240 meters, or 7,350 feet.

Compounding the problem is the heat. Like the Bird’s Nest in Beijing, site of the first hydration break in a major soccer event (the 2008 Olympics, in which Argentina defeated Nigeria 1-0 on an Ángel Di María goal set up by some prospect named Lionel something), the stadium just traps heat.

In other words, this may be the only stadium in the world in which the best preparation is to read the instructions for baking in a convection oven at altitude.

The good news today is that it’s not particularly hot. The bad news is that thunderstorms and rain showers are blowing through. So instead of a convection oven, maybe it’s more of a soup bowl.

For those of a certain age, England visiting Mexico City isn’t a novelty. The world champions turned up in long sleeves to eke out a 0-0 draw in 1969. England returned in 1985 for losses to Italy and Mexico but then beat West Germany 3-1.

In 1986, England beat Paraguay in Mexico City but had a second game against the multiple limbs of Diego Maradona that didn’t go as well.

David Pleat shared his memories of that one.

Mexico aren’t invincible in their home stadium. The USA have had some success in the past 30 years, starting with a draw in 1998 World Cup qualification and continuing with a friendly win in 2012. The teams drew in their showdowns in the last three qualification cycles. They’ve also lost qualifiers to Costa Rica and Honduras.

More worryingly for England is that Mexico have simply been better at this World Cup. England drew with Ghana and labored past DR Congo. Mexico have won three of four games by two or more goals.

Still, on paper, England have the more talented side. If you look at estimated transfer values at Fotmob, 21 players on England’s side are valued higher than the top player in the Mexican squad.

But this World Cup has been tossing aside talented teams like red cards to US players. (Too soon?)

Basically, you can make a strong case for either team to lose here. But one of them won’t. And that team won’t be facing Brazil, though you could argue that facing Haaland is worse.

Mexico fans arrive early. Photograph: Daniel Becerril/Reuters

Norway to play winners of Mexico v England

They’ve done it! Two Erling Haaland goals have put Norway into the quarter-finals for the first time. Neymar’s late penalty too little too late.

And with that I’ll hand you over to Beau Dure for the main event.

Arrival of teams put on hold

It has just been announced that the arrival of the teams at the stadium has been put on hold. So, maybe we won’t be fine ....

And another! Norway are heading through. There’s gonna be a lot of rowing routines on the floors of New York bars tonight.

And there’s been a goal in New Jersey, and you’ll never guess who got it:

Rain easing off in Mexico

3.38pm local time/10.38 BST, 5.38pm ET: The rain has massively eased off. Still a bit of thunder to be heard. But feels like we should be OK. (Please read usual disclaimer).

Today’s other big World Cup story: you know how we were all saying how Donald Trump had been mercifully invisible at this tournament …

At the moment there are no suggestions the kick-off will be delayed, although play cannot begin until 30 minutes has passed since lightning was detected within an eight-mile radius.

“Perhaps the Carpenters had it right when they wrote Rainy Days and Mondays,” writes Samuel Dodson, “given the scheduled start time of this match is supposed to be the way those of us in the UK kick off the working week – but all this talk of thunder and lightning is, to quote Queen, very very frightening. What are the chances this storm pulls a Barbra Streisand and rains on our parades and postpones the match?

“And if it is postponed, what advice do you have for those brave enough to venture to the pub in the early hours who may be faced twiddling their thumbs – other than, of course, brainstorming inevitable weather-based football pun headlines? (Although here’s hoping a Hurri-kane force blows this Mexico team away).”

Pubs can technically only stay open till 5am BST, so a delayed kick-off could mean they’re turfing out well lubricated punters just as extra-time’s about to start.

Queiroz quits as Ghana head coach. Bad news for bus-parking fans, with Carlos Queiroz announcing on Sunday he was leaving his job as Ghana coach after they were eliminated from the World Cup at the last-32 stage, AFP reports.

The much-travelled Quieroz, who coached Iran at the last World Cup in Qatar, said: “I leave this journey with pride in what we achieved, but also with the healthy dissatisfaction of those who always wanted more.”

Queiroz urged Ghana to push forward in the future, saying: “The future of the Black Stars will not be built only on the pitch.”

The former Real Madrid coach and Manchester United assistant coach added: “Reaching a higher level should never be the destination – it should be the beginning of even greater ambitions.

“Black Stars success must start off the field, by creating the best possible environment to prepare, protect and develop Ghana’s extraordinary football talent.”

Quieroz was only appointed in April when Otto Addo was dismissed.

In other parts of the World Cup-verse … chances, including a penalty, are being missed, and no goals have been scored. Tom Lutz is at the helm for Brazil v Norway.

England team latest

Stormy preamble

Evening/afternoon/morning all. This is it. The biggie for England (so far). And I must I’m afraid greet you with reports of thunderstorms in the Mexico City area. Our man on the spot, David Hytner, files this:

The first incredibly loud claps of thunder were heard here at the Azteca at 240pm local time – so a little over three hours before the scheduled kick-off time of 6pm. And it is now absolutely hosing it down with rain. This was very much forecast; hence, the farcical too and froing on Friday afternoon about bringing forward the kick-off by six hours, which ultimately proved impossible. Journalists and photographers have just been told to stay indoors at the stadium media centre. Maybe it is good that the storm has started slightly earlier than advertised giving it more time to clear before 6pm. Then again, I really do not know whether this is true!