Thunderstorms threaten to delay England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami

Severe weather is threatening to disrupt England’s FIFA World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami Gardens, with thunderstorms and temperatures that could feel as high as 40°C forecast for the weekend fixture.

Florida’s notorious summer heat is expected to sit above 30°C, but humidity levels of around 75% will push the apparent temperature significantly higher. FIFA has already been forced to delay England’s round of 16 match against Mexico by an hour due to similar conditions, and officials may face the same decision — or worse — ahead of the quarter-final.

Under FIFA’s protocols in the United States, the governing body must follow National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) guidelines. Those rules require players to leave the pitch and fans to move away from their seats whenever lightning is detected within eight miles of the stadium. A minimum delay of 30 minutes is mandatory once a thunderstorm warning is triggered.

In an extreme scenario, a cancellation or postponement of the match cannot be ruled out, though FIFA has not indicated that outcome is currently anticipated.