This was the second longest stoppage of the event, with Benfica having had one other two-hour stoppage delaying the beginning of their match towards Auckland Metropolis.
There have been six comparable stoppages in 5 totally different cities, together with Mamelodi Sundowns towards Ulsan HD, which additionally occurred in Orlando, due to heavy rain and storms.
And there have been lengthy pauses within the second half of Palmeiras v Al-Ahly in New Jersey (40 minutes), Salzburg v Pachuca in Cincinnati (90 minutes) and Boca Juniors v Auckland Metropolis in Nashville (50 minutes).
Chelsea are additionally one among many groups to fall sufferer to excessive warmth. Maresca mentioned it was “impossible” to conduct a traditional coaching session at their earlier base in Philadelphia.
Among the finest stadiums within the US and Canada have roofs, like Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, however many don’t.
Atlanta is the one floor chosen with such a coated roof within the Membership World Cup however additional stadiums in Vancouver, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Toronto are coated for subsequent summer time’s World Cup.
Nonetheless, that event has been expanded to 48 groups, which means these occasions will probably occur subsequent summer time.
Doable options may embrace shifting the World Cup to winter months, as Qatar did in 2022, however extreme chilly can also be a difficulty in elements of the US and Canada.
Head of Fifa’s technical examine group Arsene Wenger addressed stoppages from its base in Miami.
He mentioned: “It isn’t superb, I agree, since you need the move of the sport from the primary to the final minute however, as effectively, if you organise a contest you’ve got [to put] safety first.”
Fifa additionally issued an announcement on the time of the incident which learn: “Attributable to antagonistic climate circumstances in Charlotte, together with the chance of lightning within the neighborhood of Financial institution of America Stadium, the Fifa Membership World Cup match between SL Benfica and Chelsea FC has been suspended. Fifa will comply with the established security protocols, and the match will resume as quickly because it’s secure to take action.”
Fifa has been requested for a response to Maresca’s feedback.
