Here’s what happens if/when weather affects a FIFA World Cup game in Kansas City
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- FIFA implements procedures and provides specific safety guidelines during severe weather.
- U.S. thunderstorm protocol suspends matches if lightning is detected within eight miles.
- Detected lightning triggers a 30-minute delay that resets with additional lightning.
It’s summer in Kansas City. Inclement weather is inevitable.
We’ve seen baseball games postponed and football games delayed by storms.
But what happens when weather affects a FIFA World Cup soccer match? Stormy conditions began blowing through Kansas City early Thursday afternoon — in between the “Oranje FanWalk” that brought thousands of Netherlands fans downtown and the 6 p.m. Netherlands-Tunisia game at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium.
Earlier this month, FIFA gave this statement to The Sporting News:
“In the event of severe weather conditions such as lightning or thunderstorms, FIFA will implement a thorough procedure based on public safety standards, providing clear and specific safety guidelines to all stakeholders involved. FIFA has dedicated meteorological support throughout the tournament to provide accurate forecasting and strengthen real-time operational decision-making.”
According to The New York Times, U.S. thunderstorm protocol is based on the recommendations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Those guidelines dictate matches must be suspended if lightning or electrical discharge is detected within an 8-mile radius of the stadium.
Such an instance will trigger a 30-minute delay in play, with the clock resetting on any additional sighting of lightning. There are no regulations for how long a game can be delayed.
Around 2 p.m. KC time, the FIFA Fan Festival at the World War I Museum and Memorial was postponed as a squall rolled through. Severe weather was expected throughout the afternoon; rain was expected in the evening hours.
The 2026 World Cup has experienced one delay of game thus far: The France-Iraq match on June 22 in Philadelphia reached halftime when a storm blew in and put play on ice. After a delay of 2 hours, 11 minutes, competition resumed.
Here’s a potential complication, should the Netherlands-Tunisia match become delayed Thursday evening: The Dutch and Japan are tied for first in their group. And like all third games, the group’s two matches Thursday were scheduled to begin at the same time.
The timing is designed that way in order to ensure neither side has the advantage of knowing how many points are needed to advance.
Japan meets Sweden in the other group stage game Thursday night.