​England could face additional weather-related disruption as record heat and humidity threaten their World Cup quarter-final against Norway. Miami is expected to climb to 93 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend, with thunderstorms also forecast. More troubling, the combination of high heat and intense humidity is likely to make conditions feel as if they’re approaching 109°F once the match kicks off. The BBC’s forecast points to thunderstorms arriving shortly before kick-off and continuing throughout the game.
FIFA has already had to push back England’s Round of 16 clash with Mexico by an hour, and fears are rising that the Norway match could encounter similar issues. There is a real possibility that cancellations or postponements could be on the table if conditions worsen, as reported by The Mirror. Under FIFA protocol, a 30-minute delay is required if thunderstorms occur, and the governing body must adhere to local authority regulations at each host city. This means any lightning detected within eight miles of a stadium necessitates an immediate halt to play.
FIFA also must follow NOAA guidelines in the United States, which require players to clear the pitch and for spectators to move indoors away from their seats. At venues deemed particularly hot or humid, officials will record WBGT (wet-bulb globe temperature) readings 90 minutes before kick-off and again one hour beforehand. The tournament rules state that extreme weather conditions may warrant cooling breaks during a match, with the decision to implement such breaks made on a case-by-case basis by the referee.
England learned this the hard way when they arrived at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and faced an additional hour’s delay because of lightning and the need to shelter. Those handling the match in hot climates must be ready for similar interruptions. The latest episode of “All Out Soccer” is available for listening here, and the team will undoubtedly be braced for further disruptions—potentially as soon as this weekend against Norway.
England experienced a comparable delay the last time they played in Florida while preparing for the World Cup. Their final warm-up friendly against Costa Rica started an hour late due to heavy rain and thunderstorms at Orlando City Stadium, located in the same state. Thomas Tuchel addressed the issue at the time, telling ITV, “It gives us a little taste of what can happen in the tournament. We were aware of that before, now we experience it.” He added, “No problem. It should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or to lose our hunger to play the game.” He also emphasized that while it’s not ideal, it shouldn’t derail their focus or preparation.