Netherlands, Tunisia World Cup teams prepare for potential storms in Kansas City
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The NWS issued a flood watch for Kansas City from 1 p.m. Thursday to 7 a.m. Friday.
- Forecast predicts 2-3 inches of rain with 70-90% storm chance and flooding concerns.
- Both managers said they can handle weather and hoped matches proceed.
Some International soccer teams are getting their first taste of the variety of weather in North America.
Recent storms in Kansas City have already created memories for the four national teams that are based in Kansas City for the FIFA World Cup, like Argentina and England.
On the pitch, weather (in the form of heat/humidity and rain) has become one of several hot-button topics of the tournament.
England drew with Ghana in a slip-n-slide rainy match in Boston on Tuesday. On Monday, France dominated Iraq in drenched conditions over several hours after thunderstorms and pouring rain caused a two-hour delay in Philadelphia.
Ahead of the Netherlands-Tunisia clash at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium at 6 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service in Kansas City has issued a flood watch that begins at 1 p.m. Thursday and ends at 7 a.m. Friday.
The forecast calls for a possible two to three inches of rain “with excessive rainfall in thunderstorms enhancing flooding concerns.” NWS reports a high chance of rain and storms (70% to 90%) on Thursday afternoon, which falls during the Orange Walk in downtown KC.
“Some uncertainty remains with severe potential, but primary hazards would be heavy rainfall/flooding, strong winds, and small hail. Heat/humidity return over the weekend,” the service reports.
The match will have a less compelling draw than most World Cup matches as teams begin playing their third and final group match. Tunisia, a national team enthralled in chaos, has already been eliminated with two losses.
The Netherlands, which leads the group with a win and a draw, will look to finish first for better placement in the knockout rounds.
Both managers say they aren’t worried about potential storms, and are ready to deal with them if they must.
“There’s a lot we can do. There’s a lot we can prepare for. But the weather isn’t one of those things,” Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman said through a translator. “Let’s hope it doesn’t turn out too badly — that the remaining matches can be played under good conditions and actually be completed. But then again, we can’t know that for sure.”
“Maybe it won’t be bad for us, because at least we will be able to wake up,” said Tunisia manager Hervé Renard with a chuckle. Renard, an experienced national team coach, was shockingly brought in two days after Tunisia’s opening 5-1 loss to Sweden on June 14.
The team lost 4-0 to Japan on Saturday, and Renard’s final match with the team will be in Kansas City.
“But if it happens tomorrow, of course, we’ll have to manage,” he said. “During the stop, concentrate, and of course, waiting for something we can’t decide. So we’ll see tomorrow, and I hope you will be wrong.”
