The 2026 World Cup faces a volatile wildcard: lightning. Under strict US safety laws, FIFA cannot override local protocols.

If lightning strikes within eight miles, matches face mandatory 30-minute delays. Every new strike resets the clock, creating potential multi-hour shutdowns.

With Miami and Atlanta in the firing line, expect chaotic, open-ended delays that turn matches into high-stakes, weather-dependent endurance tests.

With Miami and Atlanta in the firing line, expect chaotic, open-ended delays that turn matches into high-stakes, weather-dependent endurance tests.