Football: After heat, Club World Cup weathers storms and threat of lightning
(REUTERS)From stifling heat to thunderstorms, the Club World Cup has been at the mercy of the extremes of the American summer, with the threat of lightning now forcing players to retreat to the tunnels while fans seek shelter as matches are suddenly halted.While soaring temperatures and oppressive humidity initially fuelled concerns among players and fans, it is the crackling skies and pouring rain that have emerged as the tournament's most disruptive forces.Friday's match in Orlando between Benfica and Auckland City was suspended after halftime for nearly two hours due to a lightning storm in the area.At the same venue on Tuesday, fans had barely settled into their seats when the referee ordered Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns to return to the dressing rooms, with the match delayed for more than an hour due to the threat of lightning.Cincinnati witnessed an even longer interruption when a severe thunderstorm suspended Red Bull Salzburg's clash with Pachuca for more than 90 minutes.Palmeiras and Al Ahly saw their contest in New Jersey halted for 50 minutes due to lightning near MetLife Stadium."Your attention please. For your safety, we are going to have everyone leave the Seating Bowl area and take shelter inside the stadium because of severe weather in the area," said a safety message flashed on the big screens in the arena."Event staff are available to guide and assist you. Those on the field, please walk calmly to the nearest tunnel... or to the service corridor."
Threat of Lightning Heavy rain is often the X-factor for the home side on a cold, wet night in Stoke -- which lends itself to the famous English soccer cliche -- but the same cannot be said in the United States.According to the country's National Weather Service (NWS), 75% of lightning-related deaths in the last decade occurred from June to August.Tournament organisers FIFA have weather protocols in place to ensure the safety of those on the pitch and in the stands.If there is lightning within 10 miles (16.09 km) of the stadium, an automatic match suspension is triggered.The match director is informed, who in turn asks the referee to stop play. The storm is monitored before players are called back out, with the warm-up time before the restart dictated by the time they spent off the pitch.
Fans are also asked to leave the stands and find shelter in the concourse, with one source saying the stadiums had the capacity to keep them inside until the storm passed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
an hour ago
- Gulf Today
Holder Pegula sent packing by Sevastova, Swiatek through; Fritz ends Canadian hopes with Diallo romp
Twice defending champion Jessica Pegula crashed out of the Canadian Open after losing to Anastasija Sevastova 3-6 6-4 6-1 in the third round on Friday, while six-times major winner Iga Swiatek marched on with a dominant 6-2 6-2 win over Eva Lys. The 35-year-old Sevastova, ranked 386 in the world, will next face four-times Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka, who took out Latvian 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 6-4. 'I don't know,' Sevastova said after upsetting third seed Pegula. 'Somehow, I was down 2-0 in the second set and started to play better and better. Third set, I played really good. Just trying to stay on the court as long as possible.' Wimbledon runner-up Amanda Anisimova, seeded fifth in Montreal, carved out a comfortable win over Emma Raducanu, beating the 2021 US Open champion 6-2 6-1. Iga Swiatek hits a return in Montreal on Friday. AP Anisimova's win over Raducanu is her first, having lost their previous two encounters. She will next face Ukrainian 10th seed Elina Svitolina. In the men's draw, American second seed Taylor Fritz made light work of local hope Gabriel Diallo, beating the 27th seed 6-4 6-2. Fritz, who is eyeing a third title of the season after triumphs in Eastbourne and Stuttgart, will next take on Czech 19th seed Jiri Lehecka. 'Even the games that I didn't serve my best in, I felt like I backed it up really well from the baseline, so I'm happy with that,' Fritz said. American fourth seed Ben Shelton, however, was made to work hard by countryman Brandon Nakashima before managing a 6-7(8) 6-2 7-6(5) win. 'It was back and forth,' Shelton said. 'There were a lot of huge moments, like being able to break back after getting broken in my first service game of the third set. I feel like I showed a lot of perseverance tonight.' Next up for Shelton is Italian 13th seed Flavio Cobolli. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz ended Canadian hopes at the ATP Toronto Masters on Friday as he crushed Gabriel Diallo 6-4, 6-2 to advance to the fourth round. Taylor Fritz hits a ball to Gabriel Diallo during their third round match at the Tornto Masters. Reuters The American second seed needed just 77 minutes to dispatch the the 37th-ranked local and book a meeting with Jiri Lehecka, a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 winner over France's Arthur Fils. Fritz is aiming to at least reach the quarter-finals north of the border, the only Masters where he has not gone that far. He broke once in the opening set against a nervous opponent and dominated from there. 'It was important not to let him get into the match and get the crowd fired up,' Fritz said. 'I knew the momentum could shift at any time. 'I'm super happy with it, considering how I felt on the court two nights ago in my first match,' Fritz added. 'I felt way more comfortable, confident, just hitting the ball, being aggressive, just striking it. I did well to be up an early break in the sets. I did well to just hold. 'Played really solid from the baseline as well. I backed it up well from the ground, and just did a good job of not letting him back in the sets.' Brandon Nakashima won his first set against American Ben Shelton before the fourth-seeded Shelton rallied to finish off a 6-7 (8/10), 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win. Shelton had trailed by a break in the deciding set and Nakashima saved four match points before Shelton sealed the victory with his 19th ace. Shelton finished with 46 winners to improve to 5-0 against Nakashima and will fight for a quarter-final berth against Flavio Cobolli, who downed Fabian Marozsan 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. 'I've got to find my fire from somewhere,' Shelton said of the late-night crowd support in Canada. 'I live off of that. 'Night matches are never easy, the temperature cools down and conditions are different. I showed a lot of perseverance. it's difficult being down against a big server. To come from behind takes a bit of luck.' The seeded pair of Andrey Rublev and Frances Tiafoe were tested over three sets before also making their way into the fourth round. Agencies
Gulf Today
12 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Brazil's tactical balance to be tested as Colombia rematch looms in Copa final
Brazil have cruised into the Women's Copa America final with dominant scorelines and solid performances, but their biggest challenge awaits in Sunday's rematch against Colombia, a side determined to dethrone the defending champions. Arthur Elias's team has not leaned on star power to reach the final. Instead, Brazil's run has been defined by tactical balance: a disciplined backline, coordinated pressing, sharp execution on set pieces, and exploiting their opponent's defensive miscues. Their success is largely down to a core of new figures, such as Amanda Gutierres, who is the leading scorer for the team in the tournament with five goals and plays a central role in attack. Her brace in their semi-final win over Uruguay underscored her sharp positioning and composure in front of goal. 'Hard work pays off,' the Palmeiras striker said after the 5-1 victory. 'Nothing is forced, everything happens at the right moment.' Meanwhile, the experience of Marta continues to anchor the group. The veteran playmaker, who returned from international retirement for this tournament, was named MVP in the semi-final after a standout performance, assisting the opening goal and converting a penalty. Captain Marta's energy in Quito's altitude, along with her leadership and vision, has brought balance to a side still finding their rhythm. 'We knew what to do when we had the ball, especially finding the passes between the lines,' Marta said, also praising Brazil's defensive response after a shaky start to the second half. '(Goalkeeper) Claudia and the girls at the back sorted things out.' While defensively solid with just two goals conceded in five matches, Brazil's intensity lapses have created openings that Colombia, led by Linda Caicedo and Mayra Ramirez, could punish. Their group-stage goalless draw saw Colombia dominate for 70 minutes after goalkeeper Lorena's red card, highlighting the fine margins the eight-time champions must control in the final. Brazil may not dazzle for 90 minutes, but their formula built on discipline, rotation and rising confidence has proved effective. Colombia represent their sternest test yet, but with a blend of energy and experience the reigning champions are positioned to complete their mission again. Reuters
Al Etihad
15 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Diaz makes debut as Bayern beat Lyon 2-1 in pre-season match
2 Aug 2025 20:44 MUNICH (dpa)Luis Diaz came on for his Bayern Munich debut and was involved in the opening goal in the Bundesliga champions' 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyon in a pre-season match on who arrived on Wednesday for around $85.4 million, was pulled down by Lyon's Clinton in the 53rd minute, and Michael Olise converted the ensuing penalty. Olise completed a brace nine minutes later off Serge Gnabry before Lyon got a late consolation goal from Alejandro had three efforts saved by Lyon goalkeepers Remy Descamps and Mathieu Patouillet in Bayern's first pre-season match after a three-week holiday following a Club World Cup quarter-final exit last coach Vincent Kompany changed his full team at half-time, with Diaz is among those coming on for the second half after the youngsters including Paul Wanner, Lennart Karl, and Tom Bischof, had been among the have two more tune-up games before the official start, on Thursday against Tottenham Hotspur and on August 12 against the Swiss side Grasshoppers. Their first official season match is the German Super Cup in August 16 against German Cup winners VfB Stuttgart. They start their Bundesliga title defence six days later against RB Leipzig.
