What happens when FIFA World Cup 2026 match is suspended due to bad weather? Rules explained
(Courtesy : Getty)
Suspended matches resume from the point at which they were interrupted.
The unpredictable weather in North America has been an issue during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. From extreme heat to heavy rainfall, matches have experienced all kinds of extreme weather.
The clash between France and Iraq on June 22 was suspended due to lightning strikes, with flooding forecasts also casting doubt on the next match between Norway and Senegal.
France led 1-0 at half-time against Iraq courtesy of Kylian Mbappe’s goal. However, the match was suspended at half-time due to thunderstorms and lightning strikes. This resulted in the fans at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia being asked to take shelter, while the restart of the game was delayed.
Meanwhile, flood warnings have been issued for areas of New York City and New Jersey, with the seating bowls at MetLife Stadium being cleared hours before the kick-off of the Norway vs Senegal clash.
Before the suspension of the France-Iraq match, none of the games in FIFA World Cup 2026 had been impacted due to dangerous weather conditions after kick-off.
In cases of adverse weather, FIFA follows the recommendations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It says that in the case of lightning strikes within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, play is immediately halted and suspended for a minimum of 30 minutes. That counter resets every time another lightning strike occurs.
During that period, the teams return to the dressing rooms, while fans seek shelter. Once the weather clears up and playing conditions become safe, the referee can signal for the match to resume.
What happens if a match is suspended?
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which was hosted in the USA, saw several matches being delayed for long periods of time due to lightning. As a result, FIFA has strict protocols in place that will be followed in case a match is suspended due to adverse weather or any other “force majeure”.
The FIFA World Cup guidelines state that the match will resume at a later time and/or date, which will be decided by FIFA. The governing body will also decide the match’s location and other details. The game will resume from the minute it was interrupted, rather than the whole fixture being replayed.
If the match was abandoned while the ball was in play, it will restart with a dropped ball. Otherwise, it will restart from where it left off, be it a free-kick, throw-in, corner kick, goal kick, or anything else.
The match will resume with the same players on the pitch, with no additional substitutes being added to the quota. Any cards shown during the game will remain in force.
The guidelines also state that FIFA, at its sole discretion, can call off one or more matches of the tournament, or the entire FIFA World Cup, for any reason whatsoever.
What happens if a FIFA World Cup 2026 match is suspended due to bad weather?
The suspended match will resume later from the exact minute it was stopped, not replayed in full.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.