England's World Cup quarter-final against Norway in Miami faces potential disruption from extreme weather, with temperatures forecast to reach 34°C and thunderstorms expected around kick-off. The humidity could make conditions feel like 43°C, according to the BBC's weather forecast, which also predicts lightning shortly before and during the match.
FIFA protocols could force delay or suspension
FIFA was already forced to delay England's last-16 match against Mexico by one hour due to similar conditions. The governing body follows regulations from local authorities, requiring a minimum 30-minute postponement if lightning is detected within eight miles of the stadium. Players must leave the field and spectators retreat indoors under protocols from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The match is scheduled for 10pm UK time on Saturday, but extra time and penalties could push it past midnight. A further delay would keep fans up into the early hours, as happened when England v Mexico started around 2am and finished at 4am on Monday.
Heat and humidity monitoring before kick-off
Officials will conduct Wet-bulb globe temperature (WBGT) readings 90 minutes before kick-off and again one hour prior at stadiums deemed especially hot or humid. FIFA's competition rules allow match postponement if conditions are too dangerous. England faced a similar delay in Florida before the World Cup, when their warm-up game against Costa Rica started an hour late due to torrential rain and lightning.
England manager Thomas Tuchel commented at the time: "It gives us a little taste of what can happen in the tournament. We were aware of that before, now we experience it. It's no problem. It should not be an excuse to lose our mood or patience or to lose our hunger to play the game." He added: "No problem at all. We realised it when we were still at the hotel so it was easy we just said half an hour later in the bus and let's go."
