The national teams of Mexico and Ecuador will have to wait for their Round of 32 clash at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at the FIFA World Cup 2026, after it was confirmed on Tuesday—just minutes before kickoff—that the match would be delayed by one hour due to a thunderstorm.

At 9:05 PM ET (7:05 PM local time), both teams are expected to step onto the pitch for their warm-up routines.

The match will officially kick off at 10:00 PM ET (8:00 PM local time), following the activation of FIFA’s safety protocol.

For safety reasons, FIFA ordered everyone to leave the pitch.

As rain and lightning continued and intensified over the Mexican capital, FIFA later advised spectators to return to their seats while following all necessary precautions to ensure safety and avoid any risk.

This would be the second match delayed due to a thunderstorm at this FIFA World Cup 2026, after France vs Iraq was suspended at half-time and delayed by 30 minutes due to adverse weather conditions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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