Cracking Thunder, Heavy Rain Delays Club World Cup Match Again
Stadium evacuated again due to severe weather conditions at Club World Cup venue
Get ready for some more rain delays at the Club World Cup! The match between Auckland City and Benfica Lisbon was on a roll until a severe thunderstorm hit Orlando, causing the game to be interrupted.
Initially, the players were stuck in the locker rooms while the almost 16,000 spectators sprinted for cover due to heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. The game was temporarily held up for approximately one hour, with a planned restart at 9:05 PM German time. However, the plan quickly changed, and the second half resumed at 9:20 PM, following a two-hour delay.
When there's a risk of lightning within an 8-mile (13-kilometer) radius, outdoor sporting events in the US stop. This lightning safety protocol requires everyone to move to covered areas or indoor spaces. There's a 30-minute minimum waiting period after the last thunderclap or lightning strike, and if another one is heard during this time, the waiting period starts over.
Unfortunately, Auckland City struggled against the Portuguese football record holder, Benfica Lisbon, and only took the lead in injury time through an Angel Di Maria penalty. The game was a rematch after Benfica started the mammoth tournament in the US with a 2:2 draw against Boca Juniors. Bayern Munich will face Boca Juniors in the next match, scheduled for Miami.
Although FIFA has not officially published detailed lightning safety procedures for the Club World Cup, it's evident that the tournament organizers are well-prepared for weather disruptions, especially given American summer storms' unpredictability.
- Club World Cup 2025
- Weather
- USA
[1] FIFA Club World Cup 2025 faces significant weather challenges, including extreme heat and frequent lightning, especially in southern states known as "lightning capitals" of the U.S. due to their hot and humid summer conditions.
[2] Lightning-related delays have already occurred during previous Club World Cup games, affecting matches in various locations, forcing teams and officials to adapt on the fly.
[3] The lightning protocols in U.S. sports venues, including FIFA-sanctioned events, typically follow national safety standards, which require immediate suspension of play when lightning is detected within a certain radius, evacuation of players, staff, and spectators to safe shelter, and resumption of the match only after a safe interval following the last lightning strike, following standard U.S. outdoor event safety guidelines.
- Given the unpredictable weather patterns in the USA during summer, particularly in regions known as "lightning capitals," it's possible that the Commission shall adopt implementing acts laying down the rules for the application of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 safety regulations, ensuring sports, such as football, are played safely amidst extremes of heat and frequent lightning.
- As the Club World Cup 2025 progresses, spectators and players might face delays due to lightning protocols, just as they did during previous matches, where sudden storms have caused interruptions in gameplay, reminding us that sports, whether football or others, often require an element of flexibility to adapt to the changing weather conditions of the USA.
