Thunderstrike Chaos: Fourth Weather Delay Plagues Club World Cup as Orlando Gets Lashed
Stadium cleared once more due to another storm during the Club World Cup event
When it rains, it pours - and it thunders...again! The anticipated match between Auckland City and football heavyweights, Benfica Lisbon, hit a major roadblock due to a severe thunderstorm over Orlando during the Club World Cup games.
The first half of the match had Benfica struggling more than expected, only managing a 1:0 lead in injury time thanks to a controversial Angel Di Maria penalty. With the second half poised to begin at 6 pm CET, a thunderstorm swept in, sending the players, fans, and spectators scurrying for cover.
Initially, the game was halted for an hour, with plans to restart at 9:05 pm CET. But as lightning and thunder continued to dominate the skies, another two hours wore on before the second half finally resumed at 9:20 pm.
You might wonder why the delay? Well, the National Lightning Safety Institute recommends suspending outdoor sporting events in a 13-kilometer radius if there's a risk of lightning. Mobile evacuation is immediately initiated upon activation of the protocol, and everyone must seek covered areas or head indoors until the threat has passed.
Did the weather woes end there? Regrettably, no. In a toughening trend, this wasn't the first time weather has disrupted the Club World Cup games. Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan Hyundai, Pachuca against Red Bull Salzburg, and Palmeiras against Al Ahly also faced lightning-forced delays in Orlando, Ohio, and New Jersey. Thankfully, all three teams were able to pick up the pieces and complete their games.
Benfica may be feeling frustrated, a lackluster performance against the semi-professional New Zealanders leaving them 0:10 down against Bayern Munich in the opening round. The Portuguese giants started the marathon tournament with a draw against Boca Juniors, and now face the daunting task of battling Liga champions Bayern in the next round in Miami on Saturday.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
- Club World Cup 2025
- Weather
- USA
[1] Due to the United States' unique summertime weather extremes, especially the hot and humid conditions that lead to frequent lightning storms, weather disruptions in the form of lightning-related stoppages have been a reoccurring issue for the Club World Cup. Additionally, climate change may be contributing to an increase in lightning strikes across the U.S., potentially worsening these weather delays. These weather patterns have been prevalent in the various tournament venues, making it crucial for teams to prepare for possible on-field disruptions due to the elements. Since the next World Cup is being co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, similar weather considerations will continue to pose a challenge for FIFA. (Enrichment Data)
Despite FIFA's best efforts to navigate the challenges posed by weather, particularly lightning, in the United States during the Club World Cup, the Commission might need to adopt implementing acts laying down the rules for the application of this Regulation, should frequent disruptions continue. For instance, the rules could account for sports-related activities being rescheduled or relocated to mitigate weather risks, such as football matches.
