Will the meeting between the Blues and the Norwegians experience the same fate as the France-Iraq match? Scheduled for this Friday, June 26 in Boston, the meeting remains under threat of storms and Fifa security instructions remain the same. Also, like last week, the detection of lightning several kilometers from the stadium could lead to a more or less long interruption of the match. But why such precautions?
In fact, it is not Fifa that we owe these rules. The Federation was content to comply with North American practice and regulations, given that Canada, the United States and Mexico are hosting this 2026 World Cup. Also, since the start of the competition, the slightest lightning detected within a radius of 13 km (8 miles) around the stadium results in the interruption of the match for at least thirty minutes. If no new lightning strikes occur during this period, the match can resume. But with each new flash, the timer is reset to zero.
A strict protocol, which led to an interruption of the France-Iraq match on June 22 lasting 2 hours 11 minutes due to a severe storm. During this period, the players returned to the locker room and the public was evacuated to secure areas of the stadium. Last year, during the Club World Cup, considered a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, six matches were delayed by extreme weather conditions.
Although the public and European commentators may have been surprised, the practice is common in this country plagued by sometimes dangerous weather phenomena. Interruptions due to the risk of storms are frequent, and the protocol adopted by Fifa is applied in many professional competitions including American football (NFL) and baseball (MLS). Precautions taken to protect the public from possible injury or even danger of death. In the United States, hurricanes and storms – whose season extends from June to November – kill dozens of people each year.
Recommendations made since 1998
In this context that climate change is accentuating, it is not surprising that Fifa has chosen to comply with these North American practices, applied since the early 2000s. The first recommendations in this direction in the United States date back to a note delivered in 1998 following a meeting of experts from different fields, the “Lightning Safety Group”.
In support of new research concerning the striking distance of lightning bolts and in order to harmonize the safety instructions communicated to the public, they notably formulated the 30-minute rule which now prevails in outdoor competitions. A duration that allows large groups of people gathered in stadiums or concert spaces to have time to evacuate before the risk becomes too great. The implementation of these security measures was quickly widespread in the sporting environment, in particular via the national association of certified sports coaches (Nata).
Scheduled for 3 p.m. in Boston (9 p.m. in France), this Friday evening’s kickoff should be given in cloudy weather. But the situation could deteriorate as the meeting progresses. The risk of showers is estimated at 55% according to Météo France, and storms are likely a little before 5 p.m., i.e. at the end of the France-Norway match. So if the threat of storm materializes, the Blues will once again have to be patient in the locker room.
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