England are holding a pre-competition training camp in Florida in preparation for the World Cup, with matches likely to be disrupted due to extreme temperatures and thunderstorms.
England are currently training in West Palm Beach, Florida (Image: Eddie Keogh/The FA via Getty Images)
England may have to deal with delays due to thunderstorms at the World Cup as FIFA is reluctant to change the schedule. The Three Lions have landed in the United States and are training in Florida in preparation for the campaign.
Thomas Tuchel’s team flew to West Palm Beach on Monday to acclimate ahead of a grueling campaign in North America. They will be based in Kansas City in preparation for Group L matches against Croatia in Dallas on June 17, Ghana in Boston on June 23 and Panama in New Jersey on June 27.
Tuchel and his staff are well aware of the challenges and potential dangers posed by extreme weather this summer, following the impact of the Club World Cup a year ago. The Three Lions tried their best to control the controls but were still at the mercy of the weather.
It is understood that if thunderstorms occur, FIFA will postpone matches rather than postpone or reschedule them due to logistical considerations and time pressures. England vs. Ghana and Panama kick off in the late afternoon on the east coast, so there could be some thunder.
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Last summer, Chelsea had just five minutes left in their game against Benfica at the Club World Cup in Charlotte, North Carolina, but lightning delayed the game for nearly two hours. The Blues ended up winning 4-1 after extra time, 4 hours and 38 minutes after kick-off.
“Climate-related risks will be assessed as part of overall tournament planning and managed in close collaboration with host cities, stadium authorities and national authorities,” FIFA told Mirror Football.
“FIFA will provide dedicated weather support both centrally and in the host city during the tournament to ensure access to the most accurate forecast data and enhance real-time decision-making capabilities.
Last summer’s Club World Cup was interrupted by thunder and lightning (Image: PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
“FIFA’s emergency preparedness team meets regularly with national weather bureaus and emergency management authorities in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as partners in all 16 host cities.
“Comprehensive tournament-wide preparedness training focused on severe weather scenarios further strengthened interagency coordination and operational preparedness. Stadiums are required to maintain robust risk management and evacuation procedures, including lightning and severe weather protocols in line with local laws and international best practices.”
While thunderstorms could disrupt games, the heat is sure to have an impact. FIFA has introduced a three-minute drinks break between each half to avoid scheduling matches at the peak of the heat, but Tuchel is well aware of the increased strain on his players.
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“When you play in Mexico, you’re not used to playing in this kind of heat and humidity and even altitude,” he told Sky Sports. “This World Cup will have many challenges, the heat being one of them, but we are already prepared.
“We understand players’ individual reactions to heat and have put cooling strategies in place. We have worked with Team GB and experts from around the world to come up with a solution to help players adapt.”
“We know exactly how long we want our players to be exposed before camp, the ideal time they should train in the sun, and not to overdo it.”
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