World Cup 2026: How thunderstorms could impact games

The Football Association offers guidance to the grassroots game, which places an emphasis on planning.

It says that it is “the responsibility of the match official to determine whether a fixture should be postponed, cancelled or abandoned”.

Officials and competition organisers ensure conditions are safe for a game to begin, or continue.

When it comes to a game in the Premier League or the English Football League, the referee will make the call.

It is unusual for an electrical storm to cause a game to be paused or postponed in England – largely because it is a winter sport and few games take place when electrical storms are more prevalent.

In fact, thunderstorms are reported to be four times more common in North America than Europe.

In September 2016, the Champions League tie between Manchester City and Borussia Monchengladbach was abandoned on “safety and security grounds”.

That, however, was more down to the rain than lightning – the goalmouth at one end was heavily waterlogged.

Manchester United did see a pre-season event abandoned because of an electrical storm in 2004.

Two games were due to be played at Old Trafford, with PSV Eindhoven v Urawa Red Diamonds cut short by referee Andy D’Urso with 10 minutes remaining. With more storms forecast, the match between Manchester United and Urawa Red Diamonds was also cancelled.

In Europe, a game at Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion at Euro 2024 was affected.

Referee Michael Oliver halted the last-16 encounter between Germany and Denmark at 0-0 in the 36th minute, with the players leaving the pitch as lightning flashed in the sky.

Heavy rain drenched the pitch, with water pouring down one corner of the stadium roof close to the Denmark supporters.

The match was suspended for about 25 minutes before continuing.

If there are delays to several matches at this summer’s World Cup it could make for a unique experience.

How long will a match last? Is it going to overlap another? And will it even finish on that day at all?

That is something the powerful North American weather will decide.