Storms Cause Delays and Suspensions in the First Week of the Tournament
The FIFA Club World Cup in the United States has already experienced disruptions due to severe weather, with four matches being postponed or delayed because of storms. This issue raises questions about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada.
Match Disruptions
- On June 17, the match between Mamelodi Sundowns from South Africa and Ulsan Hyundai from South Korea in Orlando, Florida was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms.
- Three other matches were also affected: Pachuca vs. Red Bull Salzburg in Cincinnati, Palmeiras vs. Al Ahly in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and Benfica vs. Auckland City in Orlando, with two of them being paused for over two hours due to inclement weather.
Strict Legislation and Safety Protocols
The United States has strict regulations regarding outdoor sporting events due to the high frequency of thunderstorms during summer. The National Weather Service reports that there are between 20 and 25 million lightning strikes annually, causing around 30 deaths and hundreds of injuries, mostly related to outdoor leisure activities.
Local protocols mandate the suspension of outdoor sporting events for at least 30 minutes when thunderstorms are detected within an 8-mile radius. If another storm approaches during this period, the resumption time becomes unpredictable.
Teams in Major League Soccer (MLS) are accustomed to these situations, but participants in the FIFA Club World Cup, featuring 32 teams from around the globe, find this weather-related disruption perplexing.
Impact on Teams and Coaches
“We had to consider the weather conditions, and the players were affected,” said Abel Ferreira, coach of Palmeiras from São Paulo, whose match against Al Ahly from Egypt was suspended for nearly 50 minutes when they led 2-0 near New York.
Ferreira also mentioned that such interruptions could potentially benefit the leading team, adding that he wouldn’t have liked it if he were on the opposing side.
“It was the longest game of my career,” stated Bruno Lage, coach of Benfica from Lisbon, after his team had to wait more than two hours during halftime before resuming their match against Auckland City from New Zealand.
Future Implications for the 2026 World Cup
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup featuring 48 nations and a significant portion of matches taking place in the US, weather-related disruptions could become even more critical. Although organizers are already considering the challenge of intense summer heat at most venues, local regulations on weather-related event disruptions might still cause complications and headaches for those responsible for broadcasting the tournament.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the issue? Severe summer storms have caused delays and suspensions in the FIFA Club World Cup matches held in the US.
- Why is this a concern? The situation raises questions about the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will have a substantial number of matches in the US and could face similar weather-related challenges.
- How do teams cope with these disruptions? Teams accustomed to such weather conditions, like those in the MLS, handle these interruptions. However, international teams participating in the FIFA Club World Cup find it perplexing.
- What are the safety protocols? US regulations require a 30-minute suspension of outdoor sporting events when thunderstorms are detected within an 8-mile radius. The resumption time remains unpredictable if another storm approaches during this period.
