The weather at the 2026 World Cup can significantly affect not only the players' performance but also the match schedule, the comfort of the fans, and the overall organisation of the tournament. Most attention is currently focused on the USA, where strict safety rules apply when lightning strikes around stadiums.
And that is also where the thunderstorms often strike most in June and July. From the perspective of the organisation of sporting events, these are much more of a problem than the rain itself.
In the US, there is a safety protocol that requires sporting events to be stopped immediately if meteorological sensors detect lightning within a 13-kilometre radius of the stadium.
At that point, all activity stops, spectators may be asked to leave the stands, and there is a minimum 30-minute break. If another lightning strike or other signs of activity occur during this time, the countdown returns to zero.
This means that matches in the USA can be interrupted for a while, and even more than an hour, due to the weather. Yet FIFA cannot simply override or modify this protocol because it is a safety rule of the parent sports organisation. It is a regulation that is commonly used in other major overseas competitions in the USA, such as the NFL and MLS.
In practice, this means that if a lightning storm occurs near the stadium during a tournament, the game must be abandoned regardless of its importance. This applies even to the biggest matches. In extreme cases, even the final match of the World Cup can be interrupted.
It is this idea that is attracting attention in the run-up to the competition, as the World Cup final is due to be played at MetLife Stadium near New York, in a region where summer thunderstorms are quite frequent.
The Club World Cup has shown what can come
Examples of matches being affected by the elements were already seen during last year's Club World Cup, when several delays occurred. The match between Ulsan and Mamelodi Sundowns in Florida was postponed for over an hour.
The RB Salzburg-Pachuca duel in Cincinnati was halted for an hour and a half. The protocol was also activated for Chelsea's match against Benfica when the game was postponed for almost two hours due to a thunderstorm.
The riskiest areas? The Northeast and Miami
According to experts, summertime thunderstorms often form east of the Rocky Mountains, especially in the northern United States. The area from Cincinnati to New York has been identified as problematic.
What does this mean in terms of hosting the World Cup? There are several host cities in this area. New York/New Jersey, Boston, Philadelphia and Miami are at increased risk.
This is where the greatest risk of game interruptions or schedule changes is expected.
Heat and altitude also play a role
Storms are not the only natural element that can have a say in the tournament. High temperatures also play a big role. While they don't lead to long interruptions, they certainly change the pace of play, players' physical fatigue, and teams' schedules.
Miami (Hard Rock Stadium), Houston (NRG Stadium), Kansas City (GEHA Stadium), and Dallas (AT&T Stadium) are expected to experience the highest heat and humidity levels during the World Cup.
FIFA is preparing for this as well. More frequent breaks are planned to cool down and refresh the players.
