{"id":1215,"date":"2026-07-03T15:37:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:37:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/agajahub.com\/?p=1215"},"modified":"2026-07-03T15:37:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T15:37:56","slug":"england-vs-mexico-kick-off-could-be-delayed-due-to-weather-with-storms-forecast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/agajahub.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/03\/england-vs-mexico-kick-off-could-be-delayed-due-to-weather-with-storms-forecast\/","title":{"rendered":"England vs Mexico kick-off could be delayed due to weather with storms forecast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

England fans in the UK face the prospect of a later start on Monday morning because of weather.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Three Lions beat DR Congo 2-1 in Atlanta to set up a last 16 game against Mexico in Mexico City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"England<\/a>
England have been training hard in Kansas City before flying to play at altitude in Mexico CityCredit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kick-off for that match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in the capital is scheduled for 6pm local time on July 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those watching in the UK, play is due to start at 1am on Monday, July 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, according to the Met Office forecast at the time of writing, thunderstorms are expected<\/a> to begin an hour before kick-off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means the start of the match could be delayed due to lightning in the vicinity of the Estadio Azteca.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With England fans in the UK already facing a very late night before the working week begins, they may be staring at the possibility of even less sleep…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the World Cup weather rules?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Severe weather has already impacted matches at the World Cup<\/a> in the United States and Mexico.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

England have already experienced this as their friendly against Costa Rica was hit by weather delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, a thunderstorm caused a two-hour delay<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mexico and Ecuador also had to wait an extra hour to start their last 32 match because of a thunderstorm in Mexico City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Lightning<\/a>
A storm delayed kick-off in Mexico City and if there is one within eight miles of a stadium then FIFA rules dictate that a game must be delayed for safetyCredit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

According to US rules, play must be stopped<\/a> if a lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A match can only resume after 30 minutes has passed since the last lightning strike and that countdown resets if more inclement weather arrives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chelsea found this out the hard way during a two-hour weather delay close to the end of a match against Benfica at last summer’s Club World Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Besides the fans, this also has implications for the players, who must find ways to stay loose despite being forced off the pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will the weather delay the game at the Azteca?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Mexico is currently in its rainy season, with heavy rain showers common in the afternoons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mexico<\/a>
Mexico is currently in its rainy season, so there is a higher chance of stormsCredit: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

While hurricane-like conditions are unlikely until September, the Estadio Azteca is braced for thunderstorms due to the local climate and geography.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fox weather meteorologist Stephen Morgan told talkSPORT that while temperatures are not a problem, storms will affect things on the ground in Mexico City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’ve had some increased moisture in Mexico and, with that in mind, we might have some rain in the area. It’s the lightening I would be concerned with rather than the rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“If there’s a lightening strike within an eight-mile radius of the stadium they will have to postpone the game and there will be a chance we will have some storms for Azteca Stadium.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stadium is located approximately 2,200 metres above sea level in Mexico City.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To put this into context, it is 855 metres higher above sea level than the summit of the United Kingdom’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At such elevation, the risk of thunderstorms forming at the Estadio Azteca is increased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thunderstorms are usually linked with cumulonimbus clouds<\/a>, which form through the rising and cooling of warm and moist air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They could initially be recognised as other clouds such as cumulus, stratocumulus, or altocumulus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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