England's World Cup semi-final against Argentina could face lengthy delays after severe thunderstorms were forecast to hit Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday. Thomas Tuchel's side are scheduled to face the reigning world champions at Atlanta Stadium at 8pm BST (3pm local time), but weather predictions indicate lightning and thunderstorms could strike the city throughout the afternoon and into early evening.
Lightning Safety Protocols Could Trigger Suspension
Under US safety legislation, play cannot begin or continue if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, regardless of whether the match is played under a roof. Although Atlanta Stadium's retractable roof will remain closed, officials are obliged to consider the safety of supporters, staff, and players outside the venue. Any lightning strike within the eight-mile perimeter would trigger an immediate suspension, with play only able to restart after 30 minutes without further strikes.
The 30-minute countdown restarts every time a strike is detected, meaning a wave of stormy weather could cause significant delays. Once the all-clear is given, both teams would also require around 15 minutes to warm up.
Potential for Multi-Hour Delay
This means England's clash against Lionel Messi, who will face the Three Lions for the very first time, could be pushed back several hours. It would not be the first occasion England have been affected by thunder and lightning at this tournament. Their last-16 encounter with Mexico was delayed by an hour, with the match eventually starting at 2pm UK time. There had been speculation that kick-off would be moved forward to 7pm UK time from its scheduled 1am slot, but FIFA decided against the change.
Extreme Weather a Recurring Theme
England's final preparation match for the World Cup was also affected by thunderstorms, postponing kick-off. Extreme weather has been a significant topic throughout the competition, with England's quarter-final victory against Norway occurring in 33-degree heat. England manager Tuchel was dissatisfied with his team's performance in that triumph, though star player Jude Bellingham defended the squad in his post-match interview.
"Maybe he [Tuchel] doesn't know what it's like to play in those conditions against [Erling] Haaland, [Martin] Odegaard, [Antonio] Nusa and [Alexander] Sorloth," Bellingham said post-match. "They're not an easy team to play against. I can't speak highly enough of the lads. You can't win every game popping the ball and making 1,000 passes, sometimes you have to win dirty and we did that today."
