Marcus Rashford is the first England player to speak up about FIFA’s plan to change the kickoff time for the Mexico game.
Marcus Rashford has become the first England player to talk about FIFA’s reported plan to change the kick-off time for their last 16 match against Mexico on Sunday.
On Thursday evening, Mexican media said FIFA might move the game from 6pm local time to 12pm because of possible thunderstorms nearby. For fans in the UK, that would change the kick-off from 1am Monday to 7pm Sunday, which could cause last-minute changes for fans and pubs planning to watch the game.
The weather forecast predicts possible storms in Mexico City about an hour before the game at Estadio Azteca. Also, US rules say outdoor activities must stop for 30 minutes after each lightning strike.
The FA is reportedly very concerned about this plan, especially for England fans traveling to Mexico City just before the original kick-off time.
Now, Manchester United forward Rashford, whose loan at Barcelona ended on June 30, is the first England player to share his thoughts on the talks. The 28-year-old called the uncertainty and possible change “not ideal,” but said England will adapt.
He said, “For us, it’s the same in how we prepare for the game. We have to stay focused and be ready for anything. That’s a strong point of our group. Everyone, players and staff, are ready for any challenge. Obviously, it’s not ideal, but it doesn’t matter.”
Team-mate Morgan Rogers agreed, saying, “Whatever problems come up, we’ll face them head-on and be ready. We’ll stick together, talk it through, and find ways to handle it.”
This change might also affect Brazil’s last 16 match against Norway, set to start at 2pm ET, two hours after the new proposed time for Mexico vs England. A spokesperson for Brazil’s football federation said a change is possible and they’re waiting on more information from FIFA.
SPORTbible has reached out to FIFA for a comment on the reported kick-off change.
In recent matches, Mexico’s last 32 game against Ecuador was delayed by an hour due to weather, and there was a two-hour break during the half-time of France vs Iraq in the group stage.
Also, France’s last 16 game against Paraguay in Philadelphia could face temperatures above 37 degrees Celsius when it kicks off at 5pm local time, which is causing some worry.