Explained in plain English

How are kick-off times decided?

Kick-off times for major tournaments like the World Cup are set by FIFA, football's global governing body. They consider factors like TV audiences worldwide, local time zones, and player welfare. The England vs. Mexico game had an early morning kick-off in the UK to suit viewers in other parts of the world, leading to those school absences.

Stories that explain this

Over 300,000 pupils missed school after England's World Cup win

Questions this opens up

Who is FIFA? Why do time zones matter? How does TV money influence sport?

This explainer came from a news story

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