A flood watch has reportedly been issued for parts of New York City and New Jersey, including Bergen County, where the open-air stadium is located. The US National Weather Service said “showers and potential thunderstorms with high amounts of moisture are expected to move through the area this afternoon and tonight”.
Rainfall could reportedly reach around 2 inches per hour, raising the prospect of flash flooding in urban areas and places with poor drainage. A travel advisory has also been issued, meaning supporters may face difficult journeys even if the match itself remains on schedule.
For both teams, the challenge could begin long before warm-ups. Congested roads, delayed public transport and changing conditions around the stadium would complicate arrival plans and increase pressure on tournament organisers.
The tournament had reportedly avoided weather delays during its opening 11 days, offering some encouragement. However, recent football in the United States provides a clear warning.
At last year’s Club World Cup, reports say six of 63 matches were delayed by weather, with interruptions totalling eight hours and 29 minutes. This month, England’s friendly against Costa Rica in Orlando reportedly began an hour late, while Saudi Arabia’s match against Puerto Rico in Austin was halted during the first half.
regulations state that an interrupted match would resume from the point at which it stopped rather than being replayed in full. The score would stand, with play restarting from the relevant free-kick, throw-in, corner or penalty situation.
also has the power to cancel, reschedule or relocate matches when force majeure or safety concerns apply.
The next storyline is whether conditions ease before kick-off. For Norway, Senegal and travelling supporters, the first victory may simply be reaching MetLife Stadium safely.