Torrential Downpour Halts Club World Cup Match Once More
Stadium evacuated once more due to storm at Club World Cup venue
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link The Club World Cup encounter between Bayern Munich's preliminary foe, Auckland City, and Benfica Lisbon (7 PM ET kickoff) was abruptly halted due to a substantial thunderstorm in Orlando.
Fans and players were left in a bind as the downpour and thunderous claps disrupted the game. The first-half concluded with Benfica securing a narrow 1:0 advantage through a penalty conversion by Ángel di María, but the second half was put on ice due to the inclement weather.
Initially, the contest was expected to recommence after an hour, at 9:05 PM ET. However, the respectable crowd of about 16,000 spectators, seeking shelter from the heavy rain, found themselves caught in a longer pause. The resumption of play didn't restart until 9:20 PM.
When lightning strikes within an 8-mile (approximately 13-kilometer) radius of the stadium, all outdoor sporting events in the USA are required to halt play. People are mandated to relocate to covered areas or indoor spaces until the storm subsides.
Storm's Unpredictable Timeline
After the final rumble of thunder, a 30-minute waiting period ensues. If another thunderclap is heard during this time, the clock resets. Thus, the restart of games can be unpredictable, even potentially postponed if the weather doesn't improve.
Three additional matches — Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan Hyundai, Pachuca against Red Bull Salzburg, and Palmeiras against Al Ahly — all faced similar disruptions due to stormy weather. Fortunately, all three games could ultimately continue and complete their matches.
Benfica showed signs of struggle against the semi-professional New Zealanders whom Bayern mauled 10:0 in the Club World Cup opener. Lisbon started their U.S. tournament with a 2:2 tie against Boca Juniors, with the Argentine club set to face Bayern on Saturday evening in Miami.
2025 Club World Cup in The States
The upcoming Club World Cup is slated to occur in numerous American stadiums, with notable venues such as Atlanta's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, East Rutherford's MetLife Stadium, and iconic cities like Charlotte, Cincinnati, Los Angeles, and Seattle hosting games during the event[1][2][4][5].
Evacuating Arenas During Thunderstorms In The USA
Although no exclusive protocols have been released for the 2025 Club World Cup, standard stadium evacuation procedures during thunderstorms in the USA generally include the following:
- Closely monitoring weather updates
- Suspending or delaying matches under hazardous conditions, like lightning
- Clear communication via PA systems and alerts through apps or text messaging
- Moving spectators to safe covered areas or indoor spaces for shelter
- Coordinating with local authorities for swift emergency response
- Resuming matches only after thunderstorms have passed and it's deemed safe to continue play
Stand-Out Venues
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta): Its retractable roof allows rapid sheltering, reducing the need for crowd evacuation outdoors.
- Other open-air stadiums like Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) or MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford) may depend more on controlled relocation to safer covered areas as needed when storms approach.
The Gist
When thunderstorms disrupt Club World Cup 2025 matches in the USA, stadiums will employ standard severe weather protocols involving suspended play and crowd communication. Safe shelter is sought within the stadiums, and evacuations will take place if necessary. The retractable roof stadiums, like Mercedes-Benz in Atlanta, can offer better protection against adverse weather, minimizing the need for full crowds to evacuate. These safety measures adhere to general practices in American stadiums to ensure fan safety during stormy events. No exclusive Club World Cup 2025 evacuation protocol document has been published, but established US stadium safety procedures and FIFA's event safety regulations will guide the response[1][4][5].
- The Commission, in preparation for the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, may consider adopting implementing acts laying down rules for the application of its regulations, particularly those related to severe weather protocols, to ensure the safety of spectators during thunderstorms, just like the ones witnessed at this year's tournament.
- Despite the potential disruptions caused by thunderstorms, fans looking forward to the European leagues and premier-league matches in the 2025 Club World Cup can still catch their favorite sports like football and soccer, as these encounters will likely occur in stadiums equipped with retractable roofs or offer controlled relocation to safe covered areas to ensure uninterrupted games, reminiscent of the US's standard severe weather protocols.
