England's World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica has been delayed by an hour due to severe weather in Orlando. The big screen at the stadium issued a weather warning, urging fans to take shelter as heavy rain flooded the pitch. The match will now kick off at 10pm BST.
The game is England's final friendly before they begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia next week. However, adverse weather conditions, including lightning, have disrupted preparations. Locals had expected the game to proceed thanks to effective pitch drainage, but delays were always possible given the current electrical storms.
Extreme weather has been a recurring issue in the United States during summer tournaments. Last year's Club World Cup saw six matches halted due to electrical storms, including Chelsea's clash with Benfica, which lasted over four and a half hours. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca questioned the wisdom of holding tournaments in such conditions, stating, 'If you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition.'
FIFA has said it will handle each match on a case-by-case basis if play is interrupted. Heat is also a concern, with water breaks scheduled in host cities where temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius. England captain Harry Kane downplayed the heat factor after Saturday's win over New Zealand, saying, 'The drinks breaks help. We're all athletes and have played in warm weather before.'
