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Trump advisor slams Keir Starmer for 'risking lives' over England World Cup kick-off time

Sir Keir Starmer was accused of putting lives "at risk" by a key advisor to Donald Trump after the Prime Minister intervened through diplomatic channels to stop England's kick-off time against Mexico being changed at the World Cup

[Trump and Infantino ]

Trump's advisor dodged question on the US President's call to FIFA to hit out at Starmer

A senior adviser to Donald Trump has slammed Sir Keir Starmer for putting lives "at risk" after the Prime Minister stepped in to prevent England's kick-off time against Mexico being altered.

Prior to the match, it emerged that FIFA was mulling over bringing the crucial last-16 encounter at Estadio Azteca in Mexico forward by six hours (from 1am to 7pm UK time) due to thunderstorm fears.

However, the proposal faced resistance from both The Football Association, England's football governing body, and the Mexican FA.

Sir Keir reportedly objected via diplomatic channels after the FA voiced worries that it would give the Three Lions insufficient time to adapt to the high altitude, thus handing Mexico an unfair edge.

[Sir Keir Starmer]

Starmer reportedly stepped in when the kick-off time could have been changed (Image: Getty)

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup, has since blasted the PM over the decision, reports the Express.

He delivered the remarks while being grilled by TalkSPORT about the furore surrounding Trump's admission that he spoke with FIFA president Gianni Infantino regarding star USA striker Folarin Balogun's red card before USA's clash with Belgium.

Dodging the question, he said: "I would go and point to something I think is a much graver decision that was made just a couple days ago.

[Jude Bellingham #10 of England celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match against Mexico ]

Jude Bellingham helped England in their win against Mexico (Image: Julian Finne - FIFA via Getty Images)

"Keir Starmer's intervention through diplomatic channels of not allowing the Mexico-England match time to be moved. In the round of 32 after the match, three Mexicans died in this celebration.

"And there were discussions about moving that match time from the evening [6pm, local time] to noon so then that way you would have less risk of life to Mexicans."

Giuliani, the son of former New York mayor and close Trump ally Rudi Giuliani, added: "That's far graver when you actually think about the consequences, the potential consequences, that anything that happens on the pitch right there.

[Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026 and FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson, Senior Coordinating Official for the 2026 FIFA World Cup participate in a Q and A session with members of the press at the International Police Cooperation Center for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at The National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia on June 29, 2026. (Photo by Kent Nishimura / AFP via Getty Images)]

Andrew Giuliani, Executive Director of the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026, slammed Starmer (Image: KENT NISHIMURA, AFP via Getty Images)

"So I would point you to that and see the immediate precedent in heads of state looking at something that happens potentially on the pitch."

However, the Giuliani appeared to have his facts wrong as the three Mexican fans who tragically lost their lives following Mexico's victory over Ecuador in the previous round died from asphyxiation after reportedly being crushed. There was no evidence to suggest that the weather was a factor.

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