England's World Cup matches could face lengthy delays if thunderstorms strike, FIFA confirms

England’s World Cup fixtures could be suspended for hours if thunderstorms strike, with FIFA confirming it will delay affected matches rather than reschedule them due to logistical constraints and the tournament’s tight calendar.

Thomas Tuchel’s squad flew to West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday to begin acclimatising ahead of their Group L campaign. England face Croatia in Dallas on June 17, Ghana in Boston on June 23, and Panama in New Jersey on June 27. The games against Ghana and Panama kick off in the late afternoon on the east coast, a window when thunderstorms are most likely.

The risk is not theoretical. Last summer, Chelsea’s Club World Cup match against Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina, was halted for nearly two hours by lightning with just five minutes remaining. The game eventually finished four hours and 38 minutes after kick-off, with Chelsea winning 4-1 after extra time.

FIFA told Mirror Football that climate-related risks are assessed as part of overall tournament planning and managed in coordination with host cities, stadium authorities, and national agencies. The governing body said it will have dedicated meteorological support in place throughout the tournament, both centrally and in each host city, to provide accurate forecasting data and support real-time decision-making.

FIFA added that its emergency preparedness team meets regularly with national meteorological and emergency management authorities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as partners in all 16 host cities. A tournament-wide preparedness exercise focusing on severe weather scenarios has been conducted to strengthen cross-agency coordination, and stadiums are required to maintain lightning and severe weather protocols aligned with local legislation and international best practice.

Beyond the storm risk, extreme heat is expected to be a persistent factor throughout the tournament. FIFA has introduced three-minute drinks breaks in each half to help manage player welfare during matches played in high temperatures across North America.