England's World Cup last-16 clash with Mexico descended into chaos after FIFA spent more than five hours considering a dramatic late change to the kickoff time before performing a U-turn that left players, supporters and broadcasters scrambling for answers.
The tie at the Azteca Stadium will now kick off as originally scheduled at 6pm local time (1am BST on Monday), but only after a frantic day of uncertainty that raised fresh questions about FIFA's organisation of the tournament.
The governing body had explored bringing the match forward by six hours because of forecasts of severe thunderstorms in Mexico City before abandoning the proposal following strong opposition from both football associations.
How did the kickoff time controversy unfold?
Reports first emerged from Mexico on Friday evening that FIFA was preparing to move the match to a midday local kickoff, equivalent to 7pm BST on Sunday, in an attempt to avoid the worst of the forecast weather.
The news quickly spread despite neither the The Football Association nor the Mexican Football Federation having been formally informed.
England's squad had already begun travelling from Kansas City to Mexico City when the reports surfaced, leaving manager Thomas Tuchel and his players unable to receive updates during their flight.
Around two hours later, FIFA acknowledged that discussions over a schedule change were taking place, further fuelling uncertainty.
The proposed change immediately sparked frustration on both sides, with Mexico manager Javier Aguirre publicly criticising the lack of consultation, while England officials were equally unhappy about the potential disruption to carefully planned preparations, supporter travel and broadcasting arrangements.
The switch would also have had knock-on effects for other knockout fixtures later in the day.
Just before midnight in the UK, FIFA confirmed the match would remain at its original kickoff time, insisting no final decision to change the fixture had ever been taken.
Why was FIFA considering the change?
The governing body's primary concern was the weather forecast for Mexico City, with thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall expected around the scheduled evening kickoff.
Weather has already disrupted several matches during the tournament, with FIFA following strict safety protocols whenever lightning threatens player or spectator safety.
However, shifting England's match to midday would have exposed players to hotter temperatures while creating major logistical challenges for thousands of travelling fans, broadcasters and tournament staff.
Although the fixture will now proceed as planned, the threat of adverse weather has not disappeared, and FIFA will continue monitoring conditions throughout Sunday, while retaining the option of delaying the match if lightning is detected near the stadium.
FGG says: Another organisational mishap by FIFA
FIFA deserves credit for prioritising safety, but the handling of this episode left much to be desired. Considering a major scheduling change less than 48 hours before kickoff without first consulting the competing teams created unnecessary confusion.
In the end, common sense prevailed, but the saga has become another example of the organisational issues that have occasionally overshadowed an otherwise memorable World Cup.