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. On June 22, the game between France and Iraq became the first World Cup game delayed by the storms, stopping for more than two hours.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.
Panama vs EnglandMetLife Stadium, East Rutherford. Kick-off: 5 p.m local timePartly sunny skies today with a 30% shower chance. At 5 p.m. the match will start with a temperature of 78F (26C). Temperatures will stay near 78F (26C) during the game. Winds out of the southwest at 5 miles per hour.Croatia v GhanaLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Kick 5 pm local timeMostly cloudy with showers and thundershowers today. At 5 pm the temperature will be near 77F (25C), with winds out of the east at 5 miles per hour. Temperatures will hold steady near 77F (25C) during the match. There is a 60% chance for a shower or thundershower at the start of the match with the rain chance diminishing in the second half. I’ll be monitoring this game.Columbia vs PortugalHard Rock Stadium, Miami. Kick-off: 7.30pm local timeA typical Miami summer day. It will be hot and humid with isolated storms this afternoon. At 7:30 p.m. the match will start with a temperature of 87F (31C). The sun will set at 8:18 p.m. and the temperature by the end of the tilt will be 83F (28C). Skies will be partly cloudy with only a slight t-shower chance. Winds out of the east 5 to 10 miles per hour.DR Congo vs UzbekistanMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. Kick-off: 7:30 pm local timeAn indoor match in Atlanta. Outside it will be hot and muggy this afternoon with a 20% chance for a shower or thundershower. At 7:30 p.m. the temperature will be near 87F(31C). The sun will set at 8:52 p.m. and winds will be out of the west at 5 to 15 miles per hour.Algeria vs AustriaArrowhead Stadium, Kansas City. Kick-off: 9 pm local timePartly sunny and warm today with an isolated shower or thundershower this afternoon. The sun will set today at 8:52 p.m. and the match is trending dry. At 9 p.m. the temperature will be 82F (28C) under partly cloudy skies, with southeasterly winds 5 to 15 miles per hour.Jordan vs ArgentinaAT&T Stadium, Arlington. Kick-off 9 pmAn indoor match so weather worried. It will be hot, breezy, and sunny today in Arlington. At 9 p.m. the temperature will be near 90F (32C), winds out of the south at 10 to 20 miles per hour. The sun will set at 8:40 p.m.Jun 27, 2026Connections: Sports EditionSpot the pattern. Connect the termsFind the hidden link between sports terms
