The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be a spectacle, but the recent warm-up match between England and Costa Rica has raised concerns about the impact of weather delays. As England head coach Thomas Tuchel noted, the delay was a "little taste of what can happen."
The match was originally scheduled for 21:00 BST in Orlando, Florida, but heavy rain and thunderstorms pushed it back an hour to 22:00 BST. This delay is not an isolated incident; weather delays have been a major talking point in the build-up to this year's World Cup, with several matches in last year's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States impacted by thunderstorms.
The concern among fans is understandable. With thunderstorms in the US not uncommon, the potential for further delays is high. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends that if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium, the game has to be stopped. This means that even a single lightning strike can lead to a mandatory 30-minute countdown, and if a full 30 minutes has elapsed, the supporters can go back to their seats and players will have a short warm-up.
The impact of these delays could be significant for fans watching around the world. For example, Scotland's match against Haiti on 14 June at 02:00 BST could be affected by a delay of even one hour, potentially leading to fans missing the game altogether. However, for England, with kick-off times in the group stage at 21:00 BST and 22:00 BST, the impact would be less major.
The 2026 World Cup is taking place at the peak of thunderstorm season in several host cities, and it is likely that we will see further stoppages. This raises a deeper question: is the World Cup the right competition to be held in the US, Canada, and Mexico, where weather delays are a common occurrence? The Club World Cup last year was a preview of what's to come, with six matches halted due to electrical storms, and Chelsea's game against Benfica taking four hours and 38 minutes to complete.
The frustration of the players and coaches is clear. As then-Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca said, "It's a joke - this is not football. If you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition."
In my opinion, the weather delays are a significant challenge for the 2026 World Cup. While the tournament is a global spectacle, the potential for delays and disruptions could impact the viewing experience for fans and the rhythm of the games. It remains to be seen how FIFA and the host countries will address this issue, but it is clear that weather delays will be a factor in the tournament's success.
