Mexico manager Javier Aguirre pushed back on potential time change vs. England Andrés Soto, USA TODAYSat, July 4, 2026 at 10:13 PM UTC 0 MEXICO CITY — El Tri manager Javier Aguirre didn&x27;t say much, but somehow managed to say it all. El Vasco briefly shed light on the discussions between FIFA and both the Mexican Football Federation and the Football Association that happened on Friday about potentially moving the round of 16 match between Mexico and England up by six hours. Eventually, it was decided that the highly anticipated match will keep its original 8 p.m. ET start time (6 p.m.
Mexico manager Javier Aguirre pushed back on potential time change vs. England
Andrés Soto, USA TODAYSat, July 4, 2026 at 10:13 PM UTC
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MEXICO CITY — El Tri manager Javier Aguirre didn't say much, but somehow managed to say it all.
El Vasco briefly shed light on the discussions between FIFA and both the Mexican Football Federation and the Football Association that happened on Friday about potentially moving the round of 16 match between Mexico and England up by six hours.
Eventually, it was decided that the highly anticipated match will keep its original 8 p.m. ET start time (6 p.m. local time) despite the concerns over thunderstorms affecting the area surrounding Estadio Azteca.
And during his press conference on Saturday afternoon, Aguirre made it clear what his role in the discussions were.
"They told me about the schedule change and I said I didn't agree," Aguirre said in Spanish. "That's all I did."
Aguirre felt the sudden time change would throw off preparations from both squads and with less than two days' notice, no one would have time to properly adjust their schedules.
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In an interview with Radio Formula on Friday, Aguirre called the proposed time change "a kick in the stomach."
"Everything changes," he said. "Now you're changing the whole plan, all the work. You're cutting out six hours you've got scheduled."
In the end, Aguirre's point of view won out. England manager Thomas Tuchel doesn't begin his press conference until 6 p.m. local time on Saturday.
MORE: Mexico stands one win from history as England arrives at Azteca for World Cup showdown
Mexico's round of 32 match against Ecuador was delayed by an hour due to lightning strikes. Despite the hours of unclarity, Aguirre reasserted that his team is ready to go for what might be the most important match in the history of the Mexican national team.
"I am how I am," Aguirre said. "I'm very practical, very natural. I took it naturally. It was something natural, not planned, not looking for ulterior motives. Plenty of cases were resolved favorably. It didn't permeate the group; the group is strong, with desire to play a great game tomorrow."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Javier Aguirre sounds off on nixed Mexico-England kickoff time change
Source: "AOL Sports"
Source: Sports
Published: July 5, 2026 at 01:27AM on Source: MANUEL MAG
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