Nearly three hours after originally reporting that Mexico’s round of 16 game versus England had been moved from 6 p.m. local time in Mexico City to noon, inside sources have confirmed that FIFA has backtracked on plans to change the game to an earlier time.

TUDN reporter Gibrán Araige, who originally broke the story, confirmed the change, saying that the match would remain at its original time. The Athletic has also confirmed that the game will stay at 6 p.m. (1 a.m. British Summer Time).

According to the BBC, FIFA held talks with both the Mexican and English football federations Friday afternoon. FIFA reportedly was set on making the change, but outrage from both federations forced them to reverse course.

FIFA reportedly cited weather issues, including thunderstorms and possible flooding, as reasons to bring the match forward.

The Weather Channel is still reporting a more than 80% chance of thunderstorms in Mexico City at 6 p.m. Sunday.

As of 5:30 p.m. Friday, FIFA itself had yet to make an official statement on the time of the game.

The story unfolded as FIFA was considering moving Mexico’s round of 16 match versus England, originally scheduled for 6 p.m. local time on Sunday in Mexico City, to noon due to the thunderstorm warnings, according to reports from TUDN and Claro Sports mid-day on Friday, who cited sources inside FIFA.

Friday morning forecasts showed a 95% chance of thunderstorms in Mexico City on Sunday, according to The Weather Channel. Rain is most common in Mexico City from 4-8 p.m., but is less common in the early afternoon. The Weather Channel cwas predicting a 33% chance of isolated thunderstorms at noon on Sunday with temperatures around 21 C (70 F). Lightning strikes detected within 8 miles of Mexico City Stadium will result in an automatic 30 minute delay.

A schedule change would likely have increased the temperature at kick off and could benefit the Mexican players, who are more adapted to the warm climate.

Mexico City Stadium also sits 2,240 meters above sea level. The thin air, to which Mexican players are more accustomed, could further tilt the stakes in Mexico’s favor. Mexico has lost just two of their last 89 matches at Estadio Azteca.

Asked at England’s training session on Friday about the possibility of the game being moved, winger Marcus Rashford told the BBC the change was “not ideal” but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to adapt.

“We have to be focused. We have to be ready for anything,” he said. “I think it’s one of our strengths as a group … We are ready for whatever challenges get thrown at us. So obviously it’s not ideal but also it doesn’t really matter.”

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre was similarly displeased with the idea of the change.

“It’s a kick in the gut; now we must change everything” Aguirre told Radio Fórmula. “It’s not that all the work goes down the drain — though it’s close — because you’re having to scrap six hours of scheduled planning … neither my players nor I are happy about it.”

Mexico’s round of 32 bout against Ecuador, scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, was delayed one hour after an electrical storm in Mexico City.

Sunday will mark Mexico’s first round-of-16 game since the 2018 World Cup, where it lost 2-0 to Brazil. Mexico has not advanced to the quarterfinals since they last hosted in 1986, which ties its best-ever result. El Tri’s 2-0 triumph over Ecuador was their first knockout stage win in 40 years. 

Mexico and England have met nine times, with the Three Lions, as England’s team is known, holding the series lead with six wins, two losses and one draw. England advanced to the round of 16 after a comeback win over Congo on Wednesday, 2-1. They reached the quarterfinals in the 2022 World Cup and the semifinals in 2018.

The schedule change might have been a relief to English fans, who would no longer have to stay awake until the early morning to watch the game.

However, such a time change could have caused chaos with ticket holders, who have been planning their trips for weeks or longer. Upward of 3,000 English fans are expected at Estadio Azteca, according to the BBC.

With reports from BBC