The 2026 FIFA World Cup is barely a week old, and it already has a signature move: running late. Scotland’s Group C opener against Haiti at Gillette Stadium on June 13 was delayed due to weather, continuing a perfect streak of tardiness. Not one of the first eight matches has kicked off on schedule.
Scotland eventually won 1-0, with John McGinn finding the net.
Lightning rules are the culprit
The delays aren’t caused by organizational incompetence or stadium construction issues. They’re caused by lightning.
US safety protocols mandate that all outdoor activity be suspended whenever lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of a venue. Once the last strike is recorded, everyone has to sit tight for another 30 minutes before play can resume.
