Weather tracker: heat, humidity and thunderstorms pose risk to World Cup

The 2026 World Cup, spanning 16 cities across the US, Mexico, and Canada, presents significant weather challenges for players and fans. Summer conditions across North America, including heat, humidity, and thunderstorms, pose risks at various venues. Thunderstorms have already caused disruptions, as seen in England's warm-up match against Costa Rica in Orlando, which was delayed by approximately one hour due to lightning and heavy rain that made the pitch unplayable. Safety regulations at US venues mandate the suspension of play when lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of a stadium, with matches resuming only 30 minutes after the last strike. These weather events highlight the potential for further interruptions and impact on tournament schedules.