Thunderstorm delays England v Costa Rica warm-up game before 2026 World Cup

England's World Cup warm-up against Costa Rica was delayed for an hour due to severe weather in Orlando, Florida.

Match delay due to severe weather England’s pre-World Cup friendly with Costa Rica in Orlando, Florida, was postponed for an hour because of heavy rain and thunderstorms. The game, originally set for 21:00 BST, did not start until 22:00 BST. This followed concerns raised before the tournament about possible weather-related interruptions. Fans inside Inter&Co Stadium were instructed to leave the stands and move to concourse areas for safety. ## Coach responds to weather disruption calmly England head coach Thomas Tuchel described the delay as a 'little taste of what can happen' and said it should not impact the team’s focus. 'We were aware of that before - now we experience it,' he told reporters. Tuchel explained that the team adapted quickly, adjusting their travel schedule by 30 minutes. 'It’s no problem,' he added, urging players not to lose their momentum or hunger. ## Safety rules dictate match pauses Thunderstorms in the US are frequent, but FIFA follows local authority guidelines when deciding to stop matches. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recommends pausing games if lightning is detected within eight miles of a stadium. Once play stops, a mandatory 30-minute countdown begins, resetting each time lightning is detected again. If the 30 minutes pass without further strikes, fans may return and players get a short warm-up before resuming. ## Global fans face disrupted viewing schedules Delays caused by weather could severely disrupt viewing plans for international fans. Scotland’s match against Haiti on 14 June at 02:00 BST could be missed entirely if even a one-hour delay occurs. England’s group-stage games at 21:00 BST and 22:00 BST are less likely to cause major disruptions. Former Scotland defender Rachel Corsie recalled similar issues during her time in America, highlighting the psychological challenge of adjusting routines. ## Players share concerns over storm impacts Experienced players like ex-England captain Steph Houghton expressed worries about weather affecting match flow. 'I think that was one of the question marks of the World Cup being in America, Canada and Mexico,' she said. The unpredictability of storms raised concerns about preparation and rhythm. Houghton emphasized that maintaining focus during such delays is crucial for performance. ## Previous warm-up games hit by storms England’s match was not the only warm-up game disrupted by extreme weather. Saudi Arabia’s game against Puerto Rico in Austin, Texas, was halted for nearly two hours after storms forced players off the pitch. Lightning strikes repeatedly reset the mandatory 30-minute waiting period. The Q2 Stadium, where this match took place, will not host World Cup games, but two Texas venues with retractable roofs will. ## Club World Cup showed worst-case scenarios Last year’s Club World Cup in the US gave fans a preview of possible delays, with six matches paused due to electrical storms. Chelsea’s game against Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina, took four hours and 38 minutes to complete after lightning forced a stop in the 86th minute. Players warmed up indoors on exercise bikes to stay ready. Then-Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca criticized the situation, calling it 'a joke' and questioning the suitability of the host locations. ## More stoppages likely during 2026 World Cup With the 2026 World Cup scheduled during peak thunderstorm season in several host cities, repeated interruptions seem inevitable. Cities hosting matches may face similar challenges seen in Orlando and Austin. The use of retractable roofs in some stadiums may help mitigate delays but will not eliminate the risk. Fans and teams will need to prepare for unpredictable weather during the tournament.