Boston storm threatens England vs Ghana but major delay unlikely, forecasters say

Rain and potential thunder are forecast for Boston on the night of England’s World Cup 2026 clash with Ghana at Gillette Stadium, though meteorologists say conditions should stop well short of the severe disruption that suspended France’s game against Iraq for over two hours on Monday.

The France vs Iraq match in Philadelphia was halted by torrential rain and a thunderstorm in one of the tournament’s more dramatic weather interruptions, putting fans and broadcasters on alert ahead of every remaining fixture. England’s game is next in the firing line.

National Weather Service meteorologist Rob Megnia said Boston will see rain showers and potentially thunder during the match, but stressed that he and his colleagues are “not overly concerned.” Temperatures are expected to sit in the low 70s Fahrenheit during the day before dropping into the 50s overnight, with forecasters estimating up to an inch and a half of rainfall across the duration of the game — enough to make conditions uncomfortable, but not enough to trigger a suspension of play.

The France vs Iraq delay had already drawn attention to the broader weather challenges facing the 2026 World Cup, which has been widely discussed for its summer heat and the introduction of hydration breaks to help players cope. The Philadelphia storm added an unexpected dimension to those concerns, and with multiple venues spread across North America, organisers are likely to face further weather decisions as the tournament progresses.

For England, the focus will be on the pitch rather than the sky, though supporters travelling to Gillette Stadium should prepare for a wet evening regardless of whether the referee’s whistle is ever interrupted.