WORLD CUP | Downing Street Clarifies Starmer Role in England-Mexico Kickoff Time Talks

Downing Street moved to clarify Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s involvement in discussions over the kick-off time for England’s World Cup match against Mexico amid a wider row about potential political interference in FIFA by U.S. President Donald Trump. Starmer was understood to have backed Football Association representations to stop FIFA moving the match from 6pm local to 12pm local on Sunday, with his spokesman stressing the final decision on fixture timings remained with FIFA, according to Yahoo Sports. The clarification came the same day FIFA faced accusations of yielding to Trump over a red card issued to United States striker Folarin Balogun. The England-Mexico match ultimately kicked off an hour later than originally scheduled because of thunderstorms, and England won 3-2 to reach the quarter-finals with a Jude Bellingham first-half brace and a Harry Kane second-half penalty.