Benfica and Chelsea confronted off within the spherical of 16 on the FIFA Membership World Cup 2025, battling for a spot within the subsequent stage. However because the match neared its conclusion, play was unexpectedly halted at Financial institution of America Stadium — leaving followers in Charlotte shocked and confused.
In a heated contest the place Chelsea had the higher hand, the Blues broke the impasse with a shocking free kick from Reece James within the sixty fourth minute. With one foot within the quarterfinals — the place Palmeiras await — the match was all of a sudden interrupted by unexpected circumstances.
Within the 86th minute, the stadium’s public handle system introduced that FIFA’s lightning protocol had been activated as a result of extreme climate within the space. Supporters from each groups had been instructed to hunt shelter within the inside concourses of the stadium as thunderstorm exercise approached the venue.
Per protocol, play is scheduled to renew half-hour after the preliminary delay announcement. As soon as that interval has handed, officers will assess situations to find out whether or not play can resume or if one other 30-minute delay will likely be required — prolonging a match that was simply minutes away from its conclusion, plus stoppage time.
A key a part of the protocol is that every lightning strike inside a 10-mile radius resets the 30-minute clock. A number of strikes occurred in the course of the delay, repeatedly restarting the clock. With gamers leaping again to the pitch for warm-ups round 7:35 p.m. ET, the sport lastly resumed at 7:45 p.m. ET.
One other match delayed as a result of climate
As is customary in U.S.-based competitions, climate protocols are strictly enforced to make sure participant and spectator security. Nonetheless, in a world match just like the FIFA Membership World Cup — and with the 2026 FIFA World Cup looming — frequent delays have turn into a mounting concern for followers and organizers alike.
The Benfica-Chelsea match marks the sixth sport delayed as a result of climate on this match. The others embody:
Ulsan vs MamelodiPachuca vs SalzburgPalmeiras vs Al AhlyBenfica vs AucklandAuckland vs Boca Juniors
