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KANSAS CITY, MO — Weather could play a factor in the Group F finale between the Netherlands and Tunisia on Thursday, June 25.
Thunderstorms and steady rain are predicted for the Kansas City area throughout the day. Tunisia coach Herve Renard said it is possible weather could be an equalizer for his underdog team.

“Maybe it won’t be bad for us,” Renard said. “If it happens, we will have to manage. To keep the players during the storm concentrate.”
Storms were a major factor in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq on Monday, June 22. The game was delayed over two hours due to lightning in the Philadelphia area.
“There is a lot that we can do. We can prepare for a lot of things except for the weather,” Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman said.
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US forward #20 Folarin Balogun (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring his team’s third goal during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026.
(PATRICK T. FALLON, AFP via Getty Images)

Tied with Japan at the top of the group, the Dutch team is hoping to put together a strong finish against Tunisia. Goal differential will be the deciding factor since Japan and the Netherlands tied 2-2.

On paper, this is a great opportunity for the Netherlands. Tunisia has been outscored 15-1 in its previous five matches.
“The ambition is to win the tournament,” Koeman said. “If you take part in the World Cup, you want to win. It’s the players that have to do it. There still a long way ahead of us and we have to take different obstacles.”
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A screen shows an evacuation warning as fans leave the stands during the 2026 World Cup Group I match between France and Iraq on June 22 in Philadelphia.
Koeman understands the match against Tunisia could provide a different challenge with Renard only joining Tunisia last week.
“We are expecting a tough match,” Koeman said. “ You (Tunisia) want to close the tournament off in a different way than the first two matches. I am expecting a reaction, I need to be prepared for that and we are.”

The two teams will kick off at 7 p.m. ET.
If weather does pose an issue in the match, delays could occur. If lightning strikes within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, the game will be suspended for 30 minutes.
The clock will reset during the break for each lightning strike. For play to resume, lightning must not occur in the area for another 30 minutes.
France’s 3-0 win against Iraq lasted two hours and 10 minutes earlier this week. The last lightning delay in Arrowhead Stadium came in 2024 when the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL’s season-opening game.

Liam Keating covers the World Cup in Kansas City for USA TODAY. He also covers high school sports and Washburn University for The Topeka Capital-Journal. Send stats or information to him at LKeating@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Storms threaten Netherlands vs. Tunisia World Cup match in Kansas City
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