Norway vs Senegal weather forecast: Will flooding forecast affect FIFA World Cup 2026 clash?
The Norway vs Senegal match will be played at MetLife Stadium.
Norway take on Senegal in a crucial Group I clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 on July 22. The match will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, but concerns about the weather have overshadowed the upcoming match.
According to AP reports, the seating bowl at MetLife Stadium needed to be cleared because of heavy rain four hours before the scheduled kick-off time, which is 5:30 AM in India on July 23.
Bergen County, where MetLife Stadium is located, is part of the New York City and New Jersey area that has been issued a flood warning by the United States National Weather Service.
“Showers and potential thunderstorms with high amounts of moisture are expected to move through the area this afternoon and tonight,” a statement from the NWS said.
“These showers will have the potential to produce up to around 2 inches of rainfall per hour. These rates could result in flash flooding mainly over urban and poor drainage areas.”
Also Read: Preview: Norway vs Senegal prediction, odds, where to watch, time
France-Iraq match affected
The earlier Group I clash between France and Iraq, which took place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, had its second half delayed due to thunderstorms and lightning strikes.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) protocols, if a lightning strike is detected in an eight-mile radius of the stadium, play is halted for half an hour, with the timer resetting for every new lightning strike.
With adverse weather affecting several parts of the USA, there is a strong possibility that the Norway vs Senegal match will also be affected and possibly delayed in case there are thunderstorms in the area.
According to media reports, heavy rainfall and lightning strikes took place in the northern New Jersey area at 4:00 PM local time, with rain continuing for almost an hour. Weather predictions show that more thunderstorms are likely to hit before kick-off time.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani asked fans travelling to the stadium to reach the venue at least four hours before kick-off time. “Thunderstorms may be severe, and winds may be strong,” he added.
What happens if the match is suspended?
FIFA has provisions in place in case a football match is interrupted by “force majeure” once kick-off has taken place. Protocols dictate that the game will be played at a later time from the minute at which it was interrupted, instead of the whole fixture being replayed.
“The match shall recommence where play was stopped when the match was interrupted (e.g. with a free kick, throw‑in, goal kick, corner kick, penalty kick, etc.),” the FIFA World Cup regulations say.
“If the match was abandoned while the ball was still in play, it shall restart with a dropped ball from the position of the ball when play was stopped. The kickoff time, date, location and any other matter shall be decided by FIFA.”
The regulations also give the global governing body the right to “cancel, reschedule or relocate” matches or the entire tournament “for any reason at its sole discretion”.
What is the weather forecast for Norway vs Senegal?
Heavy showers and potential thunderstorms are predicted in East Rutherford, with rainfall rates of up to 2 inches per hour, raising concerns of flooding.
Where is Norway vs Senegal FIFA World Cup 2026 match being played?
The Group I match will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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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.