World Cup 2026: How thunderstorms could affect games

The Football Association provides grassroots guidance to the game, which emphasizes planning.

It states that “it is the responsibility of the match official to determine whether a match should be suspended, abandoned or abandoned”.

Officials and competition organizers ensure that conditions are safe for a game to start or continue.

The referee will make the call in any Premier League or English Football League match.

It is unusual for games to be called off or postponed in England due to electrical storms – mainly because it is a winter sport and few games are held when electrical storms are high.

In fact, thunderstorms are reported to be four times more common in North America than in Europe.

In September 2016, the Champions League tie between Manchester City and Borussia Mönchengladbach was abandoned for “safety and security reasons”.

It was, however, more due to rain than thunder – at one end the round mouth was heavily waterlogged.

Manchester United saw a pre-season event abandoned in 2004 due to an electrical storm.

There were two games scheduled to be played at Old Trafford, with PSV Eindhoven v Urawa Red Diamonds referee Andy D’Urso with 10 minutes remaining. With more storms forecast, the match between Manchester United and Urawa Red Diamonds was also called off.

In Europe, a game at Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion at Euro 2024 was affected.

Referee Michael Oliver halted the last 16 clash between Germany and Denmark at 0-0 in the 36th minute, with the players leaving the pitch as lightning flashed into the sky.

Heavy rain drenched the pitch with water pouring onto a corner of the stadium roof near the Denmark fans.

The match was suspended for about 25 minutes before it resumed.

It could make for a unique experience if several matches are delayed at this summer’s World Cup.

How long will a match last? Is it going to overlap another? And will it end on that day at all?

This is something that strong North American weather will decide.