Explained in plain English

What is UTC?

UTC, or Coordinated Universal Time, is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks. It's the modern successor to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and is used to ensure everyone is on the same page, especially for global events like the England v Mexico match. The 1am UK kick-off time in the story is based on UTC+1 (British Summer Time).

Stories that explain this

England v Mexico delayed by storms in Mexico City

Questions this opens up

Is UTC a time zone? Where is the prime meridian? Who decided UTC?

Related explainers

Do countries always agree? Why do countries change time zones? Who decides international law? Who decides time zones? What are FIFA's safety rules? Why are games delayed? Why are kick-off times important? What are last-16 ties?

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