England's World Cup warm-up friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando was delayed on Wednesday night after a severe lightning storm prompted a weather warning at the stadium. The big screen urged supporters to take shelter as the pitch became waterlogged, and England's official social media account confirmed a 20-minute delay.
Weather Concerns for the World Cup
The match, England's final outing before their World Cup campaign begins against Croatia in a week, faced disruption due to adverse weather conditions in Florida. Locals were confident the game would go ahead, but delays were always a possibility given ongoing lightning.
Extreme weather across the USA has been a major talking point ahead of the summer tournament. Players will be removed from the pitch if lightning strikes, potentially causing significant hold-ups.
Previous Tournament Disruptions
Similar scenes occurred during last year's Club World Cup in the US, where six matches were suspended due to electrical storms. Chelsea's clash with Benfica kicked off at 4.38pm local time and concluded four hours and 38 minutes later. Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca questioned whether America was a suitable host for summer tournaments, stating, "If you suspend seven, eight games, that means probably is not the right place to do this competition."
Stadiums along the Gulf Coast and in the south-eastern US, including Orlando, are most vulnerable to thunderstorms. FIFA will assess each fixture individually if play needs to be suspended.
Heat Also a Factor
In contrast, heat could prove a significant challenge. Water breaks have been arranged as temperatures surpass 30 degrees Celsius in certain host cities, impacting matches and training sessions. England star Harry Kane dismissed worries about the heat following Saturday's victory over New Zealand, saying, "The drinks breaks help. A lot of people are talking about the heat but I don't think it's going to be as big a factor as what some people say. Me personally and a few of the boys who have been training for a while in it felt fine today."
