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 inAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleThe 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 U.S. 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 U.S., 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 Southeast U.S.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

Mexico and Ecuador meet at 9 p.m. ET (6 p.m. local time), but weather concerns have again emerged ahead of the World Cup clash.

Mexico and Ecuador's World Cup round of 32 game will start late after lightning in Mexico City. Here are live updates on delay and new start time.

MEXICO CITY: The World Cup last-32 game between Mexico and Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca on Tuesday (Jun 30) has been delayed by heavy rain, a message on the stadium scoreboard…

MEXICO CITY, June 30 : The World Cup round of 32 match between Mexico and Ecuador was delayed on Tuesday due to adverse weather conditions in the area around the Estadio…

The match between Mexico and Ecuador for the round of 32 of the World Cup started one hour after the original scheduled time on Tuesday night due to a thunderstorm over the Mexico…

The weather has been one of the biggest disruptors at this World Cup so far and it appears not to be finished rearing it's head

FIFA World Cup 2026 | Follow The Hindu's LIVE coverage of the Mexico vs Ecuador Round of 32 clash

Mexico vs. Ecuador became the second game to get delayed at the 2026 World Cup.

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…

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…

FIFA delayed the Mexico vs. Ecuador 2026 World Cup match by one hour due to thunderstorms at Azteca, as Ecuador faced a nine-hour travel ordeal beforehand.

MEXICO CITY, July 1 — The World Cup last-32 game between Mexico and Ecuador at the Estadio Azteca yesterday has been delayed by one hour due to heavy rain and lightning, Fifa...