What is World Cup lightning protocol? Mexico v Ecuador delayed after severe weather
Five World Cup rule changes you need to know
The 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.
