England’s World Cup quarter-final against Norway could be hit by another weather delay, with thunderstorms forecast around Miami ahead of Saturday night’s showdown.
Thomas Tuchel’s side are due to face Norway with a place in the semi-finals at stake, but severe weather could once again disrupt England’s World Cup campaign.
Storm Warning Before Kick-Off
Weather experts have warned that thunderstorms are expected to develop around the Miami area in the hours leading up to kick-off.
According to AccuWeather senior meteorologist Chad Merrill, Florida’s typical summer weather pattern could create difficult conditions around the stadium.
He explained:
“Right now we’ve got in Florida a sea breeze type of setup where you get these afternoon showers and thunderstorms that come off the Atlantic.”
He added:
“The sea breeze comes in, generates showers and thunderstorms; those thunderstorms continue to move west, and occasionally they dump some heavy rain and possibly some gusty winds.”
FIFA Rules Explained
If lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, FIFA regulations require play to be suspended immediately.
The match cannot resume until:
At least 30 minutes have passed since the last recorded lightning strike.
Players are then given an additional 15-minute warm-up before play restarts.
That means kick-off could be significantly delayed if storms arrive near the stadium.
England Have Been Here Before
This isn’t the first time England have faced disruption during the tournament.
Their Round of 16 victory over Mexico was delayed by an hour because of adverse weather, despite discussions beforehand about bringing the fixture forward to avoid the forecasted storms.
Ultimately, both football associations opted to keep the original kick-off time.
Another Test for Tuchel’s Side
England have already dealt with several setbacks during this World Cup, including injuries, logistical issues and weather interruptions.
Now, another potential delay could provide one more obstacle as they bid to reach the last four.
The Bottom Line
England’s quarter-final against Norway is set to go ahead as planned, but thunderstorms around Miami could force another FIFA weather delay if lightning is detected near the stadium.
All eyes will be on the forecast ahead of kick-off.
