England vs Mexico World Cup clash faces weather delay threat

England's World Cup last-16 match against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca on July 5 could be delayed due to thunderstorms forecast in Mexico City, according to weather reports.

Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm local time (1am BST on July 6), but the Mexican meteorological service has predicted storms beginning an hour before the match. Under FIFA rules, play must be halted if lightning is detected within eight miles of the stadium, and a match cannot resume until 30 minutes after the last strike.

The Three Lions advanced to the knockout stage after a 2-1 win over DR Congo in Atlanta, and have been preparing for the high altitude of Mexico City by training in Kansas City. This is not the first weather interruption in the tournament: earlier, a thunderstorm delayed the France vs Iraq match by two hours, and the Mexico vs Ecuador last-32 tie also faced a delayed start due to storms.

What the forecast says

Fox Weather meteorologist Stephen Morgan told talkSPORT that while temperatures are not a concern, lightning poses a risk. 'If there's a lightning strike within an eight-mile radius of the stadium they will have to postpone the game,' Morgan said. Mexico is in its rainy season, making afternoon thunderstorms common. The Estadio Azteca sits at 2,200 metres above sea level, which can contribute to rapidly changing weather conditions.

• Match scheduled for July 5 at 6pm local time (1am BST July 6)
• Thunderstorms forecast to begin one hour before kick-off
• FIFA rules: play stops if lightning within 8 miles of stadium; 30-minute wait after last strike
• Previous weather delays at this World Cup: France-Iraq (2-hour delay), Mexico-Ecuador (1-hour delay)
• Players must stay loose during potential stoppages, adding to challenge of altitude

If the weather forces a delay, England fans in the UK face an even later finish, with the match already scheduled for the early hours of Monday morning. The teams will need to adapt their warm-up routines to stay sharp during any interruption.