What time will Mexico vs Ecuador start at World Cup with kickoff DELAYED?
THE Mexico against Ecuador clash in the World Cup has been officially delayed. The last-32 knockout game was due to start at 9pm ET, 2am UK and 7pm local time. Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain have battered the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. Due to Fifa’s World Cup rules, a delay of 30 minutes must be observed when lightning is in the area. The game now has a official NEW kickoff start time at the World Cup. It will begin at 10pm ET, 3am UK and 8pm local time in Mexico. READ MORE ON WORLD CUP The players are due to start warming up 55 minutes before that. Hydration breaks have also been axed in both halves. Fans are sheltering in the concourse around the arena to get out of the torrential storms. The delay could be extended if there is even more lightning or bad weather in the area. Most read in Sport How to watch the 2026 World Cup THE 2026 World Cup is finally here - and you can get some incredible deals to watch all the action. All 104 matches will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, and can be watched through a number of streaming services. We have all the places to watch the USMNT and the rest of the world fight it out this summer. *If you click on a link in this boxout we will earn affiliate revenue - Hulu + live TV: subscribe here for just $12.99 a month! - DirecTV: subscribe here from $84.99 a month! - Sling TV: subscribe here starting at $34.99 a month! Grim footage shown on US TV network Fox showed lightning bolts streaking across the sky. A Fifa statement said: “Due to adverse weather conditions in Mexico City, including risk caused by lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the kick-off of the FIFA World Cup round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador has been delayed. “FIFA will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities, and the match will start as soon as it is safe to do so. “The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority. We thank all fans for their understanding and cooperation.” Follow our live blog for all the latest updates HERE. The winner of Tuesday night’s tie will take on either England or DR Congo on Saturday night at the Azteca. Mexico had an incredible group stage phase of the World Cup, winning all three games. They beat South Africa 2-0 in their opener, South Korea 1-0, and Czechia 3-0. Ecuador scraped into the knockouts with a 2-1 win over Germany in their final game at the MetLife Stadium.