England's Costa Rica Warm-Up Starts 1 Hour Late as Orlando Thunderstorms Trigger Lightning Protocol
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
England's Costa Rica Warm-Up Starts 1 Hour Late as Orlando Thunderstorms Trigger Lightning Protocol
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 10
Summary
An hour-long delay pushed England's World Cup warm-up against Costa Rica from 21:00 BST to 22:00 BST after thunderstorms and lightning hit the Orlando area.
Inter&Co Stadium ordered fans out of the stands and into sheltered concourses under US rules that halt play when lightning is detected within eight miles, with each new strike resetting a 30-minute clock.
Thomas Tuchel said England had been warned about such disruptions and treated the hold-up as a useful preview, while pundits noted delays can disrupt players' eating routines, preparation and match rhythm.
The stoppage follows a Saudi Arabia-Puerto Rico friendly in Texas that was halted for almost two hours and a Club World Cup in which six matches were interrupted, including Chelsea-Benfica taking 4 hours 38 minutes to finish.
With the 2026 World Cup scheduled during peak thunderstorm season in several US host cities, weather delays are emerging as a recurring tournament risk for teams, stadium operations and global viewers.