England fans are keeping a close eye on the weather in Mexico City to see whether they might need to stay up even later this evening.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are set to face Mexico at Estadio Azteca in the World Cup round of 16 at 5pm local time (1am UK time).
However, forecasts of potential storms in the area have cast doubt on whether the game will kick off on time, or what time it might finish if storms continue to disrupt the game once it has started.
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Mexico City weather forecast
The issue is that for very good reason, storm protocols are in effect. They say that the game cannot be played if there is lightning recorded within eight miles of the ground, the game cannot be played until at least 30 minutes have elapsed without a recorded lightning strike.
That means that if a lightning storm is occurring nearby around the time fans are due to enter the stadium, kick-off will be delayed. If one erupts during the game, the players will be removed from the field and play will be suspended until at least 30 minutes after it has passed.
We have seen instances of both already at this World Cup. France vs Iraq in the group stage in Philadelphia had to wait for around two hours after a storm struck during half time, and Mexico’s last game – against Ecuador at Estadio Azteca in the round of 32 – had kick-off delayed for an hour.
Based on some forecasts at time of writing, we could be set for both cases when England face Mexico at the Azteca on Sunday night.
AccuWeather are forecasting thunderstorms between 4pm and 6pm local time in Mexico City – with, to repeat, the game set to kick off at 5pm
A further storm is then forecast for sometime between 8pm and 9pm local time.
That could mean that if kick-off is delayed, the game could still be in progress when the second storm rolls around, and the players may need to head back into the dressing rooms to wait it out.
A place in the quarter-finals awaits for the winners of this encounter, to face the winners of Brazil’s earlier encounter with Norway.
Mexico have won all four of their games without conceding a goal so far this tournament.
England made an excellent start to the competition with a convincing 4-2 win over Croatia, but were held to a goalless draw by Ghana and left things late against both Panama and DR Congo to get to this stage.