World Cup
FIFA World
Cup 2026
Lightning could delay the action in Toronto today Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images
This World Cup is going to be hot and at times stormy, with a sizeable chunk of its 104 games set to be played above 90F (32C).
Spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is likely to be the warmest edition since the previous time the tournament was held in North America, when the U.S. hosted it solo in 1994.
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While extreme heat and humidity will affect how matches are played, thunderstorms could provide the greater logistical challenge.
Under the thunderstorm protocol in place in the States, a match must be suspended if lightning or electrical discharge is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium involved.
Once that happens, a 30-minute countdown begins, but resets if another strike is detected before it ends. On June 22, the game between France and Iraq became the first World Cup game delayed by the storms, stopping for more than two hours.
To help understand which games will be most affected, The Athletic is working with Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist at WKBW-TV Buffalo, to provide a daily forecast. Aaron will join live coverage to explain what’s happening during storm delays.
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California. Kick-off: 12pm local time (PST), 3pm (EDT)
An indoor match, so issues on the pitch.
It will be a pleasant day in Southern California. At 12pm, the match will start with an outside temperature of 70F (21C).
Temperatures will warm up to 72F (22C) after the game, with mostly sunny skies. Winds will be out of the west at 5 to 15 miles per hour.
BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario. Kick-off: 7pm local time (EDT)
Partly sunny, hot and humid in Toronto today. At 7pm, the temperature will be 86F (30C), with a 40 percent chance for a shower or thundershower, and winds out of the west at 10 to 20 miles per hour.
Temperatures will drop to 80F (27C) during the match. The sun will set at 9:02pm. I’ll be monitoring this game for lightning delays.
BC Place, Vancouver, British Columbia. Kick-off: 8pm local time (PDT), 11pm (EDT)
An indoor match, but outside it will be a cool and soggy day in Vancouver with rain likely today.
At 8pm, the match will start with a temperature of 58F (14C).
The temperature by the end of the match will be 57F (14C). Winds will be easterly 5 miles per hour.
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