England's World Cup semi-final showdown with Argentina on Wednesday night will go ahead as planned despite concerns over the weather in Atlanta. Thomas Tuchel's side set up a blockbuster clash with the reigning world champions after grinding out a hard-fought victory over Norway at the weekend. But while Jude Bellingham's two-goal heroics booked the Three Lions' place in the final four, fans of both nations have been left sweating over the elements ahead of the renewal of one of football's most bitter rivalries.
Stadium Roof Guarantees Kick-Off
Forecasts of severe thunderstorms hitting Georgia on matchday sparked worries of a repeat of England's round-of-16 clash with Mexico, which was delayed by an hour due to wild storms in Mexico City. However, stadium bosses in Atlanta have acted quickly to put minds at ease. Unlike the humid, open-air venues England have played in earlier in the tournament, they will face Argentina inside the state-of-the-art Atlanta Stadium - usually known as the Mercedes-Benz Stadium - which boasts a fully retractable roof.
A spokesperson for the venue confirmed that the roof will guarantee an 8pm UK time kick-off, regardless of what is happening in the skies above. "Since the stadium is covered, the match is not weather-dependent so it will be played as scheduled," the spokesperson confirmed. "No, it won't be delayed, the game will start as planned regardless of weather."
Safety Measures for Fans
The spokesperson added: "We will do everything we can to ensure the safety of fans, but it won't delay the start of the game if fans are still entering the stadium or are delayed entering due to weather conditions. The roof allows us the ability to play on time regardless of weather." Gates are set to open three hours before kick-off, with stadium staff on high alert to usher supporters in from the elements as quickly as possible if the storm does break. The match is being screened live on BBC One.
