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.
Argentina vs AustriaAT&T Stadium, Arlington. Kick-off: 12 p.m, local time. An indoor match, so no weather worries for the game. Another hot and humid day is expected in Dallas. Cloudy skies with showers and thunderstorms this morning. Skies will be clearing this afternoon. At 12 p.m. expect partly sunny skies with a 40 per cent chance of rain, temperatures warming to near 85F (29C). Temperatures after the game will be near 90F (32C). Winds out of the south at 10 to 20 miles per hour.France vs Iraq Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Kick-off: 5pm, local time.This match will need to be monitored very closely for rain and thunderstorms. A Flood Watch is in effect from 2 p.m. today through this evening. The forecast calls for heavy rain and potential severe storms to arrive this afternoon (90 per cent chance of rain). Forecast computer models have the rain arriving between 4 and 7 p.m. Temperatures near 80 F(27C) at 5 p.m. Winds will be southerly at 5 to 15 miles per hour. Temperatures will stay near 80F (27C) during the match as well. I will be monitoring the weather for this match with live blog updates.Norway vs Senegal MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ. Kick-off: 8 p.m, local timeAnother match where the weather could impact the game. The same system that will bring rain to the game in Philadelphia will be impacting this match. There is a Flood Watch beginning at 2 p.m. Expect showers and thundershowers today with a high temperature of 77F(25C). As the match begins at 8.p.m, the temperature will be near 70F (19C) with mostly cloudy skies and a 70 per cent chance of thunderstorms. Winds will be southerly at 5 to 10 miles per hour. I will be monitoring the weather for this match with live blog updates. Jordan vs Algeria Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California. Kick-off: 8pm, local timeThe weather looks great for pre-game festivities with mostly sunny skies and temperatures near 80F(27C) when the game starts at 8 p.m. the temperature will be 68F (20C). The sun will set at 8:32 p.m. and temperature will drop to near 65F (18C) by the end of the match. Winds will be northwesterly 5 to 10 miles per hour.Jun 22, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
