A sudden thunderstorm rolled over Mexico City on the eve of the highly anticipated World Cup clash between Mexico and England, prompting officials to issue a shelter‑in‑place order at the iconic Azteca Stadium.
Stadium personnel working on the pitch were instructed to retreat to the tunnel for safety, while large screens displayed urgent warnings about the approaching severe weather. Outside the venue, fans scrambled for shelter, crowding beneath bridges and awnings as rain intensified.
FIFA's Stance on a Potential Reschedule
Although local reports suggested the match could be moved forward to a noon kickoff to avoid the worst of the storm, FIFA officials ultimately opted to keep the originally scheduled start time, citing logistical constraints and the need to preserve the competition’s timetable.
The governing body had weighed the option of an earlier start, but after careful assessment decided to maintain the set schedule, leaving the match to proceed under the looming clouds.
The encounter adds to a series of weather‑related disruptions in recent weeks; Mexico’s earlier round‑of‑32 match against Ecuador had already been delayed due to rain, underscoring the vulnerability of outdoor tournaments to sudden climatic shifts.
Despite the unsettling conditions, the atmosphere inside the stadium remained charged as supporters waited for the game to commence, hopeful that the storm would pass without further interruption.