Norway-Senegal could become the first match of the 2026 World Cup seriously conditioned by the weather. Although at the moment there is no provision for postponement or suspension, The authorities of New York and New Jersey have activated warnings for very intense rains, thunderstorms and risk of flooding before the arrival of a front that will coincide with the match at MetLife Stadium.
The forecasts point to locally torrential rainfall, with accumulated amounts that could exceed the 50 liters per square meter in just one hour in the most affected areas. Added to this are thunderstorms and gusts of wind that could reach between 65 and 80 kilometers per hour, a scenario that has put the emergency services and the tournament organizers on alert.
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The main concern is not the state of the grass, but the difficulties that may arise in the movements of the fans. Meteorological services warn of possible flooding in especially sensitive urban areas, traffic problems and delays in public transport during the hours before the match.
The situation takes on a greater dimension due to the magnitude of the event. The clash between Norway and Senegal is disputed with the sold out tickets and an expected attendance of close to 80,000 spectators. Furthermore, the match coincides with a day already considered to be of particularly intense traffic in the New York metropolitan area, which is why authorities fear significant complications in access to the stadium if the rainfall ends up being as heavy as expected.
For this reason, both the organizers and those responsible for emergencies have recommended that fans use public transport and move as early as possible. It has also been recalled that FIFA nor allows entry with umbrellas into the World Cup stadiums, Therefore, it is advisable to bring raincoats or ponchos.
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At this time (4pm local) there is no immediate risk of cancellation, but the evolution of the storms will be followed very closely. In competitions at this level, rain rarely forces a match to be suspended, although the presence of thunderstorms in the vicinity of the stadium could cause temporary delays for safety reasons.
In the United States, protocols for electrical storms They are especially strict at sporting events. The usual regulations establish the temporary suspension of the activity when lightning is detected within a radius of 15 miles (about 24 kilometers) of the venue. In this case, players, spectators and staff must seek shelter and the match cannot be resumed until a specified period (30 minutes) has passed without further electrical discharges in the area.
