Brazil and Scotland World Cup Match in Miami May Be Delayed by Lightning

Brazil and Scotland are set to finish their Group C schedules at the 2026 World Cup in Miami overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, but the match could be interrupted or postponed because of severe weather. The forecast calls for temperatures of about 32 degrees Celsius at kickoff, cloudy skies, and a significant chance of rain.

The report says there is a 30% chance of thunderstorms and lightning, which could force a stoppage, as happened in the France-Iraq match. Under U.S. protocols, play must stop immediately if lightning is detected within 13 kilometers of the stadium. The match can only resume after 30 uninterrupted minutes without lightning in that radius.

Because new strikes can keep resetting the clock, delays could last for hours, and FIFA does not impose a fixed time limit, instead reviewing each case individually. If the postponement lasts more than a few hours, the game is expected to be pushed back by 24 hours. The protocol is based on guidance from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA.

During the stoppage, fans are directed to safe shelter areas inside the stadium while the players go to the locker rooms. FIFA cannot override the American procedure, and the article notes that such a delay could create a major scheduling problem at a tournament involving 48 national teams.