Mexico manager Javier Aguirre is not hiding his frustration after FIFA reportedly moved the kickoff time for his team’s round of 16 match against England. The change, driven by forecasts of severe thunderstorms in Mexico City, has the veteran coach openly angry.
The game was originally set for 6 p.m. local time Sunday at Estadio Azteca. That’s 1 a.m. Monday morning for British viewers. But with heavy rain and lightning in the forecast, it now looks like the match will start at noon local time, which works out to 7 p.m. Sunday in the UK.
Aguirre went on Radio Formula with Spanish-Mexican journalist Joaquin Lopez Doriga and didn’t hold back. He said the late switch messes with everything his staff has planned for days.
“That’s right, it’s like a kick in the gut, it changes everything, the plan. It’s not that it’s completely ruined, but almost, because you have to swallow six hours of scheduled training,” Aguirre said. “Obviously, we will abide by what FIFA says. I don’t like it at all, nor do my players. Of course, the food, the nap, the sleep, the physiotherapy, everything, everything, it seems trivial, but it isn’t.”
The Mexico boss made clear this isn’t just a minor inconvenience. He pointed to the massive operation behind the scenes.
“Today, 60 people are working here so that these 26 friends can go out on Sunday and win the game, I mean, it’s not a small thing, the truth is that the change is quite important and I’ll tell you this, well, I can understand reasons and arguments, but they didn’t consult me and yes, I’m quite angry,” Aguirre said.
FIFA is still in talks about the final decision, but Aguirre’s comments suggest the move is all but confirmed. The weather threat is real — Mexico City’s rainy season peaks in June and July, and afternoon thunderstorms are common. A 6 p.m. start would have lined up with the worst of the daily downpours. Moving it to midday avoids the heaviest rain but throws a wrench into everything for both teams.
When asked if playing at noon gives Mexico an edge as the host nation at the Azteca, Aguirre shot that down fast.
“Not at all, zero, name, no advantage whatsoever,” he said. “In the contrary, I tell you this is all designed so, since that day in Ecuador we talked, we knew the schedule, we knew the venue, we didn’t know the opponent, that’s true, but in the end, yes, they screw me over a little, yes, well yes, we have no choice but to abide by what FIFA says.”
England’s camp hasn’t commented publicly yet. But a 7 p.m. BST kickoff is actually better for British television, so they might not be complaining. For Mexico, it means scrapping a carefully timed routine of meals, rest and treatment. Aguirre’s complaint is real — six hours of scheduled prep just got tossed out the window.
The irony? Mexico is the host. And yet their coach feels like the schedule change was made without him in mind. Whether that’s paranoia or just the reality of World Cup logistics, Aguirre is clearly steamed. And he wants everyone to know it.
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