Javier Aguirre received FIFA's decision to advance the round of 16 match of the 2026 World Cup against England as a true technical knockout. The match, originally scheduled for this Sunday, July 5 at 6:00 p.m., will finally be played at 12:00 p.m. (central Mexico time) to avoid the electrical storm protocol predicted for the afternoon in the south of the capital.

In an exclusive interview with journalist Joaquín López-Dóriga for Radio Formula, the national technical director expressed his deep annoyance, ensuring that the modification completely breaks the team's medical and sporting logistics.

"It's like a kick in the stomach because it changes your entire work. It's not that it's going to hell, but almost, because you're eating up six hours that you had scheduled for recovery. I don't like it at all, obviously," the strategist confessed.

Aguirre also added that: "Evidently, we will abide by the decision. I and my players don't like it at all; now we have to get up early, reschedule the activation, the talk and the eating, because it is not the same to have some macaroni at eight in the morning as it is at two or three in the afternoon. I especially don't like the idea."

The “Vasco” added that under his management in this third stage as technical director of the Tricolor they never played at 12 noon at the Azteca and that for that reason this new FIFA schedule to face England; “If my mother breaks me a little,” he said. The medical factor and the height controversy

Aguirre's anger has a critical background: the coaching staff was operating at forced pace to recover two starting players who ended up injured after the exhausting match against Ecuador. With six hours less margin, the medical panorama of the Mexican team becomes complicated.

On the other hand, the annoyance also reached the European camp. England coach Thomas Tuchel described as “physically impossible” the adaptation of his players to the altitude of Mexico City in a period of just three days, also revealing that key figures such as Declan Rice and Jarell Quansah present severe physical discomfort.

The English will arrive in the country close to the time limit. Alteration of the Tricolor routine

The drastic adjustment forces the Aztec team to modify its biological habits in less than 48 hours. The squad will have to get up at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, have a strong breakfast early, and move to the Mexico City Stadium around 10:00 a.m., an unusual routine that could reduce the physical performance of the selected team.

Although historically playing at 12:00 in the Mexican capital favors the locals due to the harsh conditions of heat, humidity and altitude, experts agree that these factors end up being subjective.

In the high competition of a World Cup, both squads have the scientific preparation to overcome, so the real challenge for Mexico will be to assimilate the mental and logistical impact of this unexpected change of plans.

El Tri has nothing left but, in Aguirre's own words, to “drink garlic water and abide by the provisions of FIFA.”