Scotland’s World Cup opener against Brazil could be interrupted by something more dramatic than a Neymar dive. Severe weather forecasts for Miami Gardens on June 24 have prompted FIFA and local authorities to draw up contingency plans for potential lightning delays during the Group C fixture at Hard Rock Stadium.
The match is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. ET, but weather alerts indicate risks of lightning and severe storms from approximately 7:00 p.m. onward. That puts the second half of the game squarely in the danger zone.
Miami’s weather is the uninvited opponent
Evening temperatures are expected to exceed 100°F on the heat index during the kickoff window.
Lightning is the specific trigger for match delays under FIFA protocols. Stadium officials at Hard Rock Stadium are required to clear the pitch and potentially evacuate exposed seating areas when lightning is detected within a certain radius.
