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 previous 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 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, but 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 help understand which games will be most affected, The Athletic is working with Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist at WKBW-TV Buffalo, to provide a daily forecast. Aaron will join live coverage to explain what’s happening during storm delays.
Spain vs Saudi ArabiaMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atalanta. Kick-off: 12 pm local timeAn indoor match so no weather worries for the game. Another hot day expected in Atlanta. Sunny skies in the morning with temperatures warming up quickly. At 12 p.m. expect mostly sunny skies with temperatures warming to near 80F (27C). Temperatures after the game will be near 85F (29C). Winds out of the southwest at 5 to 10 miles per hour.Belgium vs IranSoFi Stadium, Inglewood, LA County. Kick-off 12pm local time.This match is also indoors so no weather issues here. The forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and temperatures near 70 F(21C) at 12 p.m. Winds will be westerly at 5 to 15 miles per hour, Temperatures will stay near 70F (21C) after the match as well.Uruguay vs Cape VerdeHard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens. Kick-off: 6pm local timeThe weather could impact this game. A typical Miami June day with sunny skies in the morning. It will be hot and humid with high a temperature of 94F(34C). Clouds will increase in the afternoon with storms developing near 3 p.m. As the match begins at 6.p.m. the temperature will be an uncomfortable 90F (32C) with mostly cloudy skies and a 60% thunderstorm chance. Winds will be southerly at 5 to 10 miles per hour. I will be monitoring the weather for this match with live blog updates. Fans need to stay hydrated at this match.New Zealand vs EgyptBC Place, Vancouver. Kick-off: 6pm local timeAn indoor match so nothing to worry about on the pitch. The weather looks great for pre-game festivities with mostly sunny skies and temperatures near 75F(24C) when the game starts at 6 p.m.
