This World Cup is going to be hot and at times stormy, with a sizeable chunk of its 104 games set to be played above 90F (32C).Spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is likely to be the warmest edition since the last time the tournament was held in North America, when the U.S. hosted it solo in 1994.While extreme heat and humidity will affect how matches are played, thunderstorms could provide the greater logistical challenge.Under the thunderstorm protocol in place in the United States, a match must be suspended if lightning or electrical discharge is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium involved. Once that happens, a 30-minute countdown begins — and resets if another strike is detected before it ends. Last summer, for example, Chelsea’s Club World Cup game against Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina, took four hours and 38 minutes to complete after repeated lightning delays.To give an understanding of which games will be most affected, The Athletic is working with Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist for WKBW-TV Buffalo, to provide a daily forecast. Aaron will also join live coverage to explain what’s happening during storm delays.
Mexico vs South AfricaEstadio Azteca, Mexico City; kick-off 1pm local timeThe World Cup begins today with Mexico hosting South Africa at the Azteca, a rematch of the tournament’s 2010 opener (which was a 1-1 draw in Johannesburg).This morning, temperatures will be near 65F (18C), with partly-sunny skies and a brief rain shower possible. At 1pm local time, as the match begins, it will be around 74F (23C) with clouds increasing. The rain chance will grow over the afternoon, with the greatest probability coming toward the end of the game. By 3pm, temperatures will be near 75F (24C) with the rain and storm chance close to 80 percent.Mexico City is 7,350 feet (2,240 meters) above sea level. Fans will want to drink plenty of water to avoid getting dehydrated as the elevation will impact those who have not acclimated to the thinner air yet. The impact of alcohol is noteworthy, as it can exacerbate this issue at higher altitudes.South Korea vs Czech RepublicEstadio Akron, Guadalajara; kick-off 8pm local timePartly sunny today with temperatures near 82F (28C). The sun will set at 7:35pm, and when the match begins at 8pm, skies will be partly cloudy with temperatures near 75F (24C). Clouds will increase during the game with temperatures around 70F (21C) by 10pm. A few showers will approach toward the final whistle, with the rain chance reaching near 30 percent by 11pm.The elevation here is 5,138 feet (1,566 meters) above sea level. The air will not be as thin as in Mexico City, but fans who have just arrived at the World Cup and are not yet used to these higher altitudes, please do your best to stay hydrated.Jun 11, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
