England vs Costa Rica threatened by flooding and lightning storms in Orlando

England’s pre-World Cup friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando is facing potential delays after severe storms flooded the pitch and triggered a lightning warning at the stadium on Wednesday night, just one week before the Three Lions open their World Cup campaign against Croatia.

The big screen inside the venue urged supporters to “take shelter” as the pitch became waterlogged, casting serious doubt over whether the match could start on time. Locals are understood to believe the game will still go ahead, but continued lightning in the area remains a significant concern — players must be removed from the pitch if lightning is detected, a rule that could push kick-off back considerably.

Extreme weather has already been a recurring issue in the United States this summer. During last year’s Club World Cup, six matches were halted due to electrical storms, including Chelsea’s clash with Benfica, which kicked off at 4.38pm local time and did not finish until four hours and 38 minutes later.

FIFA have confirmed they will handle any weather-related stoppages on a case-by-case basis, with the governing body well aware of the risks posed by the Gulf Coast and south-eastern regions of the country — the area where Orlando sits. Stadiums in that zone are considered the most vulnerable to thunderstorms throughout the tournament.

Heat is a separate but equally pressing concern for teams preparing for the World Cup. Temperatures in several host cities have been well above 30 degrees Celsius, prompting the scheduling of mandatory water breaks during matches and adding an extra layer of physical strain on players during training sessions.

For England, the timing is far from ideal. Wednesday’s friendly was intended as a final dress rehearsal before the competitive action begins, and any significant disruption to the match could limit Gareth Southgate’s opportunity to assess his squad in match conditions ahead of the Croatia opener.