Forget Kane or Bellingham... it was Starmer who won it! PM 'stepped in' to stop FIFA moving England's kick-off amid fears Mexico 'were trying to gain an advantage'

By GREG HEFFER, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT Published: 15:31, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 15:43, 6 July 2026 It might have been Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who scored the goals on the pitch... but was Keir Starmer really to credit for England's victory over Mexico? The Prime Minister is claimed to have stepped in to help block world football's governing body from bringing forward the kick-off time for the Three Lions' World Cup clash. On Friday, around 54 hours before the last-16 tie at the Azteca stadium in Mexico City was due to begin, there were reports the match could be held six hours earlier. Forecasts of extreme weather and safety concerns for fans were said to be behind a last-gasp bid by FIFA to change the kick-off time to 7pm UK time on Sunday. But, in the end, the game actually began an hour later than its scheduled 1am UK time on Monday due to thunderstorms in the local area. Following the Three Lions' dramatic 3-2 win, it has now been claimed that Sir Keir played a key role in stopping efforts to move the kick-off time much earlier. The PM reportedly voiced his opposition to moving the match by six hours because he suspected Mexico were trying to gain an advantage. He is said to have told the English FA he opposed bringing forward the game because it would give Thomas Tuchel's team less time to adapt to the altitude at the Azteca. It might have been Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham who scored the goals on the pitch... but was Keir Starmer really to credit for England's victory over Mexico ? The Prime Minister is claimed to have stepped in to help block world football's governing body from bringing forward the kick-off time for the Three Lions' World Cup clash A source told The Sun: 'The Mexicans were really talking up the storm and were pressing to move the game. 'But Keir was having none of it and suspected they were trying to derail the England preparations by giving less time to adapt to the altitude, so he put his foot down.' The Azteca sits at 2,240 metres above sea level and there had been concerns before the match about England's ability to adapt to the energy-sapping conditions. However, Downing Street insiders played down suggestions that Sir Keir had directed the FA to stand firm against a change to the kick-off time. Rather than ask the PM if he would accept moving the time of the match, the FA is instead said to have alerted Sir Keir to the issue and explained why it would be a problem so that the Government could intervene via diplomatic channels. Amid the chaos over the kick-off time for the match, there were fears that many England supporters with tickets to the game might have missed it had it been brought forward. There were two flights that landed in Mexico City from Atlanta - where England's previous match against DR Congo had been held - at 9.55am and 11.55am local time on Sunday. Had the match been shifted to 12pm local time on Sunday - rather than 6pm local time -  then many Three Lions fans would have struggled to make it to the Azteca in time. The England Supporters' Travel Club was given an official allocation of 3,000 tickets for the game.