What is World Cup lightning protocol? Storms threaten to delay two games

Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleIf conditions are dangerous enough to force an abandonment, World Cup regulations state that the game would be played on a future date (Getty Images)The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled during peak storm season in parts of these countries, raising concerns about potential weather-related disruptions.Strict US regulations, which Fifa observes, dictate that matches must be halted if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of a stadium.The rule caused multiple significant delays during last year's Club World Cup in the US, including a match between Chelsea and Benfica that was paused.Upon a lightning strike, a 30-minute countdown begins before play can resume, with any subsequent strikes resetting this timer, potentially leading to prolonged stoppages, especially in the Gulf Coast and South East US.Such delays could complicate the synchronised kick-off times for final group-stage games, and World Cup regulations state that any abandoned matches would be replayed on a future date from the point of interruption.In fullWhy World Cup games could face long delays due to lightning strikesThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

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