Severe weather is already shaping the 2026 World Cup after the tournament’s first delay this week in Philadelphia and another one possible today in Kansas City — so, yes, matches can be delayed, suspended or even postponed under FIFA rules.
Heavy downpours opened in the 35th minute of the fixture between the France-Iraq on Monday, Jume 22 at Lincoln Financial Field, but it wasn’t until halftime that officials announced a 30-minute delay due to storms. There had also been a tornado warning issued shortly after kick-off.
That delay went on to last two hours and 10 minutes. Prior to this delay, the only weather-related delay was in the 1974 World Cup tournament semifinal match between West Germany and Poland due to monsoon-like rains leaving the pitch completely waterlogged, according to officials. It lasted only 30 minutes.
Advertisement
Thunderstorms in the forecast for the Kansas City area on Thursday afternoon might see the second delay of the 2026 tournament during the Tunisia – Netherlands game according to AccuWeather.
“It looks like there will at least be areas of rain and thunderstorms moving through Kansas City Thursday evening that can bring impacts to the game,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty said. “Delays could be lengthy as rain and storms could be around the area for several hours.” Noting the game can go on in the rain, but play would be suspended if lightning is detected.
While matches often continue through heavy rain, lightning and other dangerous or extreme weather conditions trigger strict safety protocols that can halt games immediately. In many cases, that means players leave the field and fans are moved to shelter until it’s safe to resume.
But not all weather is treated the same.
Advertisement
As extreme heat and summer storms impact host cities across the United State, Mexico and Canada, understanding how and when FIFA intervenes has become a key question for viewers across the world.
Can weather delay or stop World Cup 2026 games?
Yes. World Cup games in the United States could be delayed for hours if severe weather strikes. While FIFA games rarely get cancelled outright because of weather, matches can be delayed, suspended or restarted when lightning, storms or extreme heat make conditions unsafe. In general, soccer is considered an all-weather sport, and matches are routinely played during heavy rain and snow.
Last year’s FIFA Club World Cup saw six games delayed by severe weather. Enzo Maresca, then manager of Chelsea, said during the tournament that the amount of delays were “a joke” — and even questioned if tournaments should be held in the U.S. during the summer.
Advertisement
“For me, it’s not football,” Maresca said. “It’s already seven, eight, nine (in fact six) games that they suspended. I can understand that for security (safety) reasons you are to suspend the game. But if you suspend seven, eight games, that means that probably is not the right place to do this competition.”
What weather actually stops a World Cup match?
Rain alone usually does not stop play, as matches will continue through heavy downpours as long as the field remains safe and playable, but when accompanied by lightning or severe storms, it may trigger delays.
If lightning is detected within roughly eight miles of a stadium, play must stop immediately under safety protocols used in the Unites States, where players leave the field and fans are directed to shelter until conditions improve.
Advertisement
How long can a weather delay last?
There is no simple answer to how long a delay will last, sometimes stretching far longer than expected.
Once lightning is detected, a mandatory countdown of 30 minutes begins…and resets after ever strike.
-
If no new lightning strikes occur, play can resume
-
If another strike is detected, the clock resets back to 30 minutes again
This is why some matches can be delayed for hours. The June 22, 2026 World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia was paused for more than two hours due to repeated lightning in the area during heavy downpours.
Can a match be canceled or postponed?
Yes, but it is very rare. FIFA does not set a strict time limit for how long officials must wait before calling off a game, but they do have the authority to reschedule or relocate matches for safety reasons.
Advertisement
If the severe weather conditions don’t improve, games can be resumed later the same day or postponed and completed later — picking up from where the left off.
Can a match be delayed, suspended or cancelled over extreme heat?
Rather than stopping games, FIFA typically uses cooling or hydration breaks to protect players during high temperatures. They have introduced a mandatory three-minute hydration break midway through the first and second half of every World Cup 2026 match.
“For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” said Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer, USA, for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in announcing the initiative.
Advertisement
Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for USA Today Network. Reach her at mfrancis@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Can weather delay World Cup 2026 games? FIFA rules explained
Comments
Advertisement