UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer intervened to prevent FIFA bringing forward kick-off at the Estadio Azteca amid concerns the change could give World Cup co-hosts Mexico an unfair advantage over England on Sunday.
The UK government stepped in through diplomatic channels to oppose moving the match because it would mean Thomas Tuchel’s team had less time to adapt to the altitude, it is understood.
Starmer directed the intervention after being alerted to the potential problem by the Football Association, which is understood to have contacted Downing Street before the game, as first reported by The Sun newspaper, which broke the story.
England overcame hostility, altitude and Jarell Quansah’s red card to edge a 3-2 blockbuster against Mexico and set up a quarter-final clash with Norway.
The match was due to kick-off at 6pm local time (0000 GMT), but with the threat of lightning in the area, the stadium activated its thunderstorm protocol and the game instead started a hour later. FIFA had wanted the game to start several hours earlier to try to avoid the storm but was relented.
Outgoing prime minister Starmer intervened last week with emergency legislation to allow UK pubs to stay open late for the round-of-16 match.
