"England's World Cup Plans Upset by Proposed Kick-Off Change, FA Fuming Over Mexico Match Chaos"

ENGLAND face their preparations for their last-16 clash with Mexico being thrown into chaos if the kick-off time is moved forward by six hours.

Fifa are , which was scheduled for 1am UK time on Monday, to 7pm on Sunday because of a terrible weather forecast.

Fears of severe tropical storms and lightning chaos in Mexico City have forced Fifa into a last-minute emergency scramble Credit: Getty Thomas Tuchel and his squad travelled to Mexico from Kansas on Friday Credit: PA

Predicted conditions include the possibility of heavy storms, lightning and flash-flooding.

It has come as a complete surprise to the Three Lions and boss , who now may be forced to hastily rearrange his plans on matchday.

are flying out to Mexico City on Friday evening, two days before the game, so those plans will not change.

Currently the schedule is for the players to train at 4pm local time in Mexico City on Saturday, the day before the game, with media allowed to witness the first 15 minutes of the session.

But there is a chance that slot would get moved to earlier in the day to mirror the noon kick-off if the switch takes place.

The biggest switch will obviously be the day of the match itself, when the team would arrive far earlier to the Azteca Stadium.

They usually turn up at matches 90 minutes before kick-off, so instead of arriving at 4.30pm local time as had been planned, it would be 10.30am if the game is moved.

Many fans will be expecting the big difference between a noon kick-off and a 6pm one to be heat but in actual fact, the forecast suggests there will not be much of a change.

Currently in Mexico City at 6pm local time on Sunday is due to be 17 degrees with a chance of rain, while at midday it is 21 degrees.

Either way, it will continue the trend at this World Cup so far for of playing in favourable conditions, compared to the scorching heat they have been preparing for.

Instead, the big difference in conditions is expected to be the air quality, which is generally far worse in Mexico City at midday than in the evening.

There is also the prospect of players having less time to recover from a bad night’s kip with an earlier kick-off.

Tuchel’s side are already bracing themselves for the kind of reception from rowdy Mexican fans the night before the game that Ecuador were subjected to in the last 32.

Fireworks, car horns and beating drums created a racket in a sneaky bid to disrupt the Ecuadorian players’ sleep the night before the game.

Those antics led to , who lost 2-0 in the Azteca the following day, filing a complaint with Fifa.

It all adds up to a headache for boss Tuchel, who was already fretting over his side’s inability to adapt to the altitude in the Mexican capital, with the Azteca 2,200m above sea level.

England’s Marcus Rashford were asked about the mooted switch to the kick-off Credit: PA Morgan Rogers batted away concerns about the fixture change Credit: PA

While the Football Association are understood to be livid as a move would also affect England fans who were not due to arrive in Mexico City until tomorrow lunchtime, meaning many Three Lions supporters could miss the match.

Forwards and were asked about the mooted switch on Friday afternoon at their Kansas City training base, before the squad flew to Mexico.

star Rogers, 23, said: “It’s just another obstacle to overcome.

“We’ll take it how it is. Whatever the task is in front of us, whatever problem we face or different thing that we think might be a bit difficult, we’re just going to attack full front.

“We’ll be ready as a whole team, be together and talk through what can help us, what can be difficult and just try to overcome it.”

man Rashford said any potential move was “not ideal” but the squad would deal with it.

The 28-year-old added: “I think for us it’s the same, how we prepare for the game, it has to be the same, we have to be focused, we have to be ready for anything.

“I think it’s one strength of the group, everyone included, the players, the staff, we’re ready for whatever challenges get thrown at us.

“Obviously it’s not ideal but also it doesn’t matter.”

One silver lining of having the kick-off moved forward is that England’s players would be less likely to suffer from altitude sickness.

That tends to kick in after three days in Mexico City, and Tuchel was already trying to combat that by taking his players 48 hours before the game.

It would be an even shorter period before their last-16 clash began if kick-off is moved.

The ball is said to move differently at altitude which should favour those with a stunning long-range shot on them, which both Rashford and Rogers possess.

Asked if they will be trying their luck from distance even more as a result, Rashford added: “For sure, if we get the opportunity we know we have to test the keeper.

“The altitude plays a factor but it’s not something we’re worried about. We’re all experienced players, we have to manage the game, and do whatever it takes to win the game and move England forward.

“There are lots of things like variables which are changing and whatnot, but it doesn’t make that much of a difference.”