News Focus
- FIFA must follow strict local lightning safety rules that suspend games when storms approach within eight miles
- Climate change is creating more violent thunderstorms during the tournament’s summer schedule
- Matches stopped by weather can resume hours later or restart the next day from the exact minute of suspension
- England and Scotland face high risk of delays during outdoor group fixtures in Boston and New Jersey
- Six matches at last summer’s Club World Cup already suffered significant delays due to electrical activity
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca strongly criticised officials after they stopped his side’s Club World Cup tie against Benfica last summer. The match in Charlotte, North Carolina began at four in the afternoon local time. With just four minutes of normal time remaining, referees ordered everyone off the pitch. Lightning had struck within the danger zone.
Players from both teams spent nearly two hours in the changing rooms. Some used exercise bikes while others kicked balls about to stay warm. The final whistle eventually blew at 20:38, more than four and a half hours after kick-off. This delay was one of six weather interruptions during that tournament alone.
The upcoming World Cup takes place across the United States, Canada and Mexico. These regions experience peak thunderstorm activity during the summer months. Experts warn that frequent stoppages are highly likely.
FIFA cannot create its own weather regulations. The organisation must obey local authority guidelines. In the United States, officials follow National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration standards. These rules demand immediate suspension if lightning strikes within an eight-mile radius of any stadium.
A mandatory thirty-minute waiting period begins the moment officials stop the game. Detection equipment monitors the area continuously. Each new lightning strike resets the countdown clock to thirty minutes. Only after a full half-hour passes without electrical activity can players return for warm-ups.
There is no maximum time limit for these delays. Tournament organisers focus primarily on ensuring thousands of supporters return home safely. Some matches might finish near midnight or restart the following morning.
World Cup regulations state that abandoned fixtures must resume from the exact minute they stopped. For example, a match halted in the 76th minute would continue with just fourteen minutes remaining. FIFA would schedule the continuation for the next available date.
Climate change has worsened the situation considerably. Global warming produces warmer air containing more moisture. This creates stronger and more frequent thunderstorms across North America compared to thirty years ago.
Host cities facing the greatest risk include Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Miami and New Jersey. Mexican venues in Mexico City and Monterrey also face threats. However, stadiums in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston feature fixed or retractable roofs that provide protection.
England’s opening match against Croatia takes place indoors in Dallas. However, their subsequent fixtures against Ghana in Boston and Panama in New Jersey remain exposed. Scotland confront similar dangers. Steve Clarke’s team plays Haiti and Morocco in Boston before facing Brazil in Miami. All three outdoor matches could face interruptions.
The 1994 World Cup in the same country suffered extreme heat rather than storms. Temperatures reached forty-nine degrees Celsius at pitch level during the Republic of Ireland versus Mexico match in Orlando. Officials then prevented players from drinking water on the field.
Modern safety protocols differ completely. Sophisticated detection systems identify lightning strikes invisible to the human eye. Referees must stop play regardless of actual conditions inside the stadium itself.
European football rarely faces such problems. The continent experiences four times fewer thunderstorms than North America. England’s winter season avoids peak storm periods entirely.
Precedents do exist, however. Manchester United cancelled a 2004 pre-season double-header at Old Trafford due to electrical storms. More recently, referee Michael Oliver stopped Germany’s Euro 2024 match against Denmark in Dortmund because of lightning.
The 2026 tournament presents unique scheduling challenges. Final group matches occur simultaneously to prevent unfair advantages. If lightning stops one fixture, officials may need to pause its paired match too. Knockout rounds create further complications with potential extra time and penalty shootouts.