The 2025 Club World Cup, which was considered a “rehearsal” for the national team World Cup, witnessed a delay in 6 matches due to weather conditions, which sparked criticism from coaches and observers regarding the suitability of some American cities to host major tournaments.
Italian coach Enzo Maresca, who was supervising Chelsea’s training at the time, described these delays as a “joke,” considering that they affected the players’ concentration and raised questions about the readiness of some American cities to host sporting events of this size.
Climate experts confirm that the risks of lightning are not marginal, although deaths resulting from direct strikes are rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, 444 deaths due to lightning were recorded between 2006 and 2021, most of them during outdoor recreational activities.
Areas east of the Rocky Mountains are among the areas most vulnerable to thunderstorms due to high humidity resulting from warm Gulf of Mexico waters, while scientists warn that climate change may increase uncertainty in storm patterns and lead to higher rates of lightning.
Researcher Kelsey Malloy of the University of Delaware said that a warmer climate is associated with “more intense precipitation rates and stronger upward air currents,” which leads to “greater electrical charging of clouds, and thus higher rates of lightning flashes.”
She added that weather forecasts have become more accurate in monitoring severe weather, calling on the public to adhere to warnings and safety measures, explaining that “lightning can strike miles away from the actual location of the storm.”
For his part, lightning researcher Zhiqin Ding from the University of Florida said that stadiums are often protected by lightning rods and safety systems, but he pointed out that nearby strikes may nevertheless cause the disruption of matches and events inside the stadiums.
Concerns are not limited to storms, but also extend to high temperatures, as FIFA will use a number of stadiums equipped with roofs or air conditioning systems in cities such as Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Vancouver, to mitigate the impact of severe weather.
However, a large number of stadiums will remain open, which means the possibility of matches being held under high temperatures and stifling humidity.
During the 2025 Club World Cup, several matches were held at temperatures exceeding 32 degrees Celsius with high humidity levels that increased the feeling of heat exhaustion.
A report prepared by a team of climate scientists indicated that “extreme heat” may affect a quarter of the tournament’s matches, including the final match scheduled in New Jersey.
In an attempt to mitigate the risks, FIFA adopted water-drinking pauses during each half, while doctor Chris Mullington from Imperial College London warned that some players may not be able to play “with the intensity they are accustomed to.”
He added that audiences may be more vulnerable to health risks, especially with alcohol consumption and direct exposure to the sun in light of high heat and humidity.
In the same context, a number of current and former professional players, led by Norwegian player Morten Thorsby, submitted a petition to FIFA in which they demanded that the protocols for dealing with heat stress during the World Cup be updated.
The players stressed in their open letter that the effects of heat may lead to “dizziness, fatigue, muscle spasms and worse,” calling on international football to assume its responsibility in confronting the repercussions of the climate crisis. (Sky News)
