FIFA Held Last-Minute Talks on Kickoff Time, Then Locked In 1am Slot

FIFA considered shifting England's 1am BST World Cup kickoff against Mexico as recently as Friday, 3 July, but ultimately kept the original 18:00 Mexico City time. The decision left UK police, schools, and employers scrambling to manage the logistical fallout: extended pub hours until 5am, flexible school attendance policies, and extra patrols. The fixture, Match 92 on 5 July, exemplifies the scheduling friction inherent when a North American–hosted tournament produces late-night British kickoffs.