The club World Cup reveals some problems as a dress rehearsal for the 2026 World Cup. But even the greatest is FIFA powerless.
Julian Buhl reports from Atlanta
On Tuesday evening it suddenly became hectic before the Mercedes-Benz stage in Atlanta. A good hour before the kick-off of the round of 16 of the club World Cup, which Borussia Dortmund won 2-1 against the Mexican representative Monterrey, started heavily. In the sky above the arena, dark storm clouds rose and in the distance there were already a few flashes to be seen and thunder roses.
People fled from the impending storm, flocked and sometimes even ran towards the stadium. Because there in the high-tech arena equipped with a lockable roof and a air conditioning system, they were certainly in front of the thunderstorm, which was brewed directly above.
Accordingly, all of this, FIFA was able to accept all of this as the organizer of the game and the entire tournament. In the calming certainty that the game takes place without any impairment in the stadium completely protected by the external circumstances.
This is exactly what was not always the case in the course of the club World Cup. On the contrary: the new XXL tournament, which FIFA also serves as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup, which will take place in the USA, Canada and Mexico in the coming year, has fully felt the prevailing weather extreme in North America. Temperatures beyond the 30-degree mark and occasionally over 40 degrees Celsius are just as much a part of the venues as well as the loud moaning of the players.
The greatest danger to the tournaments is not the temperature, but it also comes from the top. Specifically in the form of violent storms, which have already resulted in several game interruptions and litigation. The Orlando, which was in the “Sunshine State” in the “Sunshine State”, was particularly affected by them.
The game between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns could only be kicked off there for over an hour due to a thunderstorm. The game in the group of FC Bayern between Benfica Lisbon and Auckland City was interrupted for two hours a few days later due to the unpredictable weather conditions in the region.
The round of 16 in Charlotte, which FC Chelsea ultimately won against Benfica Lisbon with 4: 1 after extension, caused a lot of frustration – but also only after an interim and almost two -hour interruption in the 86th minute.
After the restart, Chelsea had to accept the 1-1 equalization in the fifth minute of stoppage time-and thus into the extension. The fact that there was a forced break was not understandable for many participants. The FIFA said that lightning strikes had threatened near the stadium in Charlotte. So the players had to leave the place and the spectators – although the danger above the stadium ultimately remained rather abstract.
However, FIFA had no other choice at all and only followed the so -called “US Thunderstorm Protocol”, which is mandatory throughout the United States at such sporting events. This thunderstorm protocol applies to all live sports events in the entire United States. Accordingly, it is also used in the large US sports leagues such as the NFL (football), the MLB (baseball) or the MLS (football).
This regulation has already led to a temporary interruption at the club World Cup in seven games. The FIFA are bound by the FIFA. In this case, the World Football Association is not to blame because it must comply with the applicable rules. It is a state regulation in the United States that stands over all international institutions – and thus also above FIFA. With a view to the 2026 World Cup, it can neither be lifted nor changed.