2026 World Cup in the US: Why Fifa should be worried

Dubai: Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was left fuming just before his team’s Club World Cup match against Benfica in the United States on Saturday. The match, held at Bank of America Stadium, was delayed for two hours due to lightning and took nearly five hours to complete.

With just four minutes remaining in regulation time, fans were asked to evacuate the seating bowl due to safety concerns. Notably, this marked the sixth weather-related delay in the first 50 matches of the tournament—despite no rainfall at the venue.

“If they are already suspending six, seven, eight games, probably there is something that is not working well,” Maresca said, adding that the United States “is not the right place to do this competition.”

His frustration could echo Fifa’s own concerns as they prepare to host the 64-team World Cup next year across the US, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.

Soaring daytime temperatures—reaching up to 38°C in some host cities—along with unpredictable weather conditions, including thunderstorms, lightning, and torrential rain, have raised alarm among players, fans, and officials.

Fifa is already facing scrutiny over its decision to host the tournament in North America, with issues ranging from pitch quality to travel restrictions, including those enacted during former US President Donald Trump’s administration.

“What you’re seeing right now is very typical. This is not unusual at all. Next year, we may be going through the same thing,” said Ben Schott, a senior official from the National Weather Service (NWS), in an interview with The Athletic. Schott is part of the NWS team collaborating with Fifa on weather safety planning for the World Cup.

Several cities that are set to host major World Cup fixtures, including Orlando and New Jersey — where the final will be played — were also impacted during the Club World Cup.

On the bright side, this year’s tournament may serve as a valuable test run for Fifa. The challenges encountered could provide vital lessons and help organizers better prepare for next year’s expanded global event.