Extreme heat and thunderstorms: Club World Cup fights against the weather!

Extreme heat and thunderstorms: Club World Cup fights against the weather!

The current Club World Cup in the USA is focusing on extreme weather conditions, which have already led to several game interruptions. Loud Laola1 Five games had to be interrupted due to severe weather, including the game between Auckland and Boca Juniors, which was paused for almost an hour. The match between RB Salzburg and CF Pachuca was particularly affected - the game stopped for over an hour and a half.

Such extreme weather conditions are not uncommon. Meteorologist Ben Schott of the National Weather Service (NWS) confirms that the tense conditions are typical of the American summer. FIFA has therefore introduced special regulations that apply to thunderstorms within a 10 mile (approx. 16 km) radius of the stadium. During such interruptions, the players have to go into the changing rooms while the spectators seek shelter in the stadium or in the surrounding areas.

Heat and thunderstorms as a constant threat

The influence of weather conditions is serious. In Charlotte, North Carolina, where FC Bayern's third preliminary round game is scheduled, temperatures are expected to feel like 41 degrees. Bank of America Stadium offers little shade, which further increases the strain on players. On Sunday, the players from Real Madrid and CF Pachuca also had to compete in similar conditions, where it felt like 38 degrees.

How Football data reported, there were more than just interruptions. Several games had to start later due to severe weather, including Mamelodi Sundowns against Ulsan HD and Benfica against Auckland City, both of which started more than two hours late. FIFA is monitoring the situation closely and has made the health of everyone involved a top priority.

Demands for better planning for the future

Climate change and extreme weather events also pose significant challenges for future sporting events. Experts and climate activists are raising concerns about FIFA's safety measures and the conditions under which the games will be played. For example, national hockey player Nike Lorenz recently reported on unpredictable weather conditions that also affect major sporting events such as the Olympic Games. According to a report by Deutschlandfunk The need for better protected sports facilities and clear criteria for interrupting competitions could increasingly come into focus.

FIFA is already working on weather plans for the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada. This also includes providing weather forecasts in multiple languages ​​to better prepare foreign fans. The NWS, together with FIFA, has developed a weather threat plan that breaks down potential threats in the World Cup cities and is intended to ensure the safety of players and spectators.

It becomes clear that the influence of weather is not only a challenge for the current Club World Cup, but will also be crucial for the organization of future sporting events.