England’s World Cup last 16 match against Mexico will remain at 6pm local time (Monday 1am BST) following Fifa discussions about potentially moving the kick-off forward six hours.

Thunderstorms are forecast over Mexico City on Sunday and there was concern that the match could be affected by adverse weather. A decision has now been taken that the knockout game can take place at its original time.

The English Football Association was stunned that the move was under consideration so close to game day, partly for the potential impact on travelling England fans, some of whom have made plans to land in Mexico City on Sunday morning.

Mexico’s FA was understood to be similarly in the dark, but it is believed broadcasters had communicated that a switch to midday was likely.

The Mexico coach, Javier Aguirre, criticised what he thought was an impending change. He said: “The schedule change hits like a kick in the stomach. We have to change the entire plan. I don’t like it at all.” The co-hosts’ last 32 match against Ecuador earlier this ‌week was delayed due to an electric storm.

When asked about the possibility of the game being moved the England midfielder Morgan Rogers said: “We’ll be ready regardless of the time. The earlier the better because you want to play. There is enough thinking about what is going to happen and the build-up – you just want to play the game. Getting that adrenaline out there will help us and get us going and playing. We’re looking forward to it whatever the time is. We’ll deal with it as best as possible. It’s another obstacle to get over.”

Marcus Rashford added: “I think for us it’s the same, how we prepare for the game, it has to be the same, we have to be focused, we have to be ready for anything. I think it’s one of the strengths of the group, everyone included, the players, the staff, we’re ready for whatever challenges get thrown at us. Obviously it’s not ideal but also it doesn’t matter.”

Marcus Rashford speaks to the media at England’s training base in Kansas City. Photograph: Kyle Rivas/Getty Images

Tuchel and his staff have been leaning into a military concept known as VUCA in their approach to the tournament. It stands for volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity and essentially relates to the importance of being prepared for anything. The term was coined by the US Army War College in the early 1990s.

England intend to deal with whatever is thrown in front of them, with Tuchel’s assistant, Anthony Barry, having described the need for a “Bring it on” mentality in an interview last November. The kick-off time switch represents the acid test of England’s flexibility.

“The team that wins the World Cup will be the one that has this ‘Bring it on’ mentality,” Barry said. “It’s hot. Bring it on. We’ve got late flights. Bring it on. We play eight games, not seven. Bring it on. There’s a storm. Bring it on. We’ve got a flight with time difference. Bring it on. Bring it on. Bring it on.”