What happens if Spain vs Argentina is delayed? FIFA World Cup 2026 Final

Can Argentina defend their FIFA World Cup crown against European champions Spain?

MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, New York, in the United States of America, is all set to host the biggest game in the history of mankind. Reigning world champions Argentina lock horns with reigning Euro champions Spain. It is set to be a game that will be remembered for ages.

Argentina will be keen to add the fourth star on their badge by winning back-to-back World Cups under Lionel Scaloni. The latter will become the first Argentine gaffer to win consecutive World Cups in doing so.

Their road to the final has not been an easy one. But La Albiceleste have shown utmost resilience and courage. They scripted some of the most iconic comeback tales for ages.

Spain will be playing in just their second World Cup final, after winning the gold back in 2010. Their ‘Golden Generation 2.0’ are on the cusp of making history.

They had the toughest route to the final. They needed to get the better of teams like Portugal, Belgium and France. They will now play a non-European side for the first time in the knockout stages.

Amid the buzz and excitement of the FIFA World Cup 2026 finals across the globe, fans wonder what if the final is postponed or cancelled due to bad weather conditions. A few games in the World Cup have been affected due to adverse weather conditions, forcing a delay in kick-off time.

In this article, we take a closer look at the chances of rain and thunderstorms. Additionally, find out what happens if the game is postponed or cancelled.

Also read: Will iShowSpeed perform in half-time show of FIFA World Cup 2026 Final?

Spain suspended training on Saturday due to bad weather

New Jersey has been affected by adverse weather conditions in the last two days. Due to Canadian wildfire smoke drifting across the region, the air quality has worsened in the region. Visibility can be a concern at MetLife Stadium in the final.

After a hot and humid Friday, severe thunderstorms and heavy rain moved in, prompting flash flood and severe weather warnings on Saturday. La Roja even had to suspend their training sessions due to bad weather conditions.

However, the weather reports look optimistic now in East Rutherford. The rain has been a blessing in disguise to clear the air affected by wildfire smoke in Canada. It has been a sunny day so far with clear skies in New Jersey.

Temperatures are expected to range between 21°C and 27°C. Winds will blow at 13-17 km/h.

Also read: Who will perform United States National Anthem in FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Ceremony?

What if the match gets affected by rain or bad weather?

According to FIFA rules, rain is not enough to stop playing as long as conditions are not that bad to stop the play. If lightning is detected within a 13-kilometre radius of the stadium, the referee is instructed to stop the play of the game immediately.

The referee must wait for 30 minutes without another lightning strike to resume the play. Heavy rains can also make the pitch waterlogged. The referee can stop the play due to unsafe playing conditions.

So, will the match be cancelled? Definitely not.

FIFA World Cup, being held for almost a century never had joint winners. The FIFA World Cup Finals must determine a clear winner on the pitch. In case the game is affected by bad weather conditions, at worst, the kick-off time can be delayed.

Unlike the DLS system in cricket, there is no concept of reducing the time from 90 minutes to 120 minutes during extra time. The game resumes exactly from the time it was stopped. The match does not restart.

Even if the game is delayed, the game does have a final winner. If there is nothing to separate the two sides within 90 minutes, the game goes to an additional 30 minutes of extra time. After that, the game goes to penalties and sudden death.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.