The early days of the Club World Cup had beaten, unexpected results and environmental obstacles. The climatic conditions observed in the summer of the United States have been having a considerable influence on matches, disputed under high temperatures and threatened – times, paralyzed – by lightning and storms.
The issue concerns the sequence of the competition itself and another tournament organized by FIFA (International Football Federation) in 2026. The traditional World Cup of Selections will also take place in North America, at the same time of year, with the 104 games divided between the United States (78), Mexico (13) and Canada (13).
The Club World Cup had, in three consecutive days, in different cities, delays late or paralyzed under the justification of “severe climatic conditions”. This was the case of Ulsan HD x Mamelodi Sundowns in Orlando, Pachuca x RB Salzburg in Cincinnati and Palmeiras x Al Ahly in East Rutherford.
In the case of the Palmeiras game, this Thursday (19), the interruption took the players by surprise, as it didn’t even rain in the area of Metlife Stadium. The police authorities reported, however, the risk of lightning, and the rigid security protocol was performed with the evacuation of the lawn and the stands.
The match was restarted about 50 minutes later, ironically in the rain. That is, it was only when the water began to fall for the ball to roll again – although, of course, according to the authorities of the New Jersey region, the stadium was at that time free of the possibility of electrical discharges.
FIFA representatives in the arena said that decisions on delays and interruptions are made in conjunction with local authorities. The United States has a firm protocol, based on guidelines from the NWS (National Meteorology Service), which should be “fulfilled without exceptions.”
It is not exclusive to the Club World Cup. Also on Thursday afternoon in New York, near where Palmeiras played, the confrontation between New York Yankees and Los Angeles Angels, valid for MLB (Major League Baseball, the National Baseball League), on Yankee Stadium.
The World Cup regulation does not deal specifically with this issue. Item 35.6 addresses weather conditions, but with regard to high temperatures. The text provides for the possibility of pauses for “cooling”, for the hydration of the players. This possibility has indeed been put into practice.
“It’s impossible, a horrible heat,” said Spanish right back Marcos Llorente, complaining of the thermometers above 30th C in Atletico Madrid’s 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain last Sunday (15) in Pasadena. “My fingers were sore, my nails hurt. I couldn’t brake or get out. It’s unbelievable.”
FIFA said its doctors “are in constant contact with the World Cup participating clubs to take care of heat management and acclimatization.” In a statement, the entity also pointed out that “established medical officers at headquarters to work in cooperation with local health authorities, including heat confrontation.”
