Chelsea FC have vehemently criticised hosting the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. after a 2-hour delay in the 86th minute of their 4-1 win over Benfica after FIFA’s weather protocol was triggered.
The match being played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte was stopped due to a storm threat, specifically the risk of lightning in the area. At the time, Chelsea were leading 1–0 thanks to a stunning free-kick from Reece James.
Key Complaints from Chelsea
Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca was especially vocal, calling the situation “a joke” and questioning the decision to host such a prestigious tournament in the U.S., where weather-related delays had already interrupted multiple matches.
“It’s not football,” he said. “You stop the game for two hours, and when you restart, it’s a completely different game. You break the tempo”.
Also Read: KRU Announces Trials for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games
He emphasized that six or seven games had been suspended due to lightning threats, which he argued was unprecedented in other major tournaments like the World Cup or European Championship.
Captain Reece James expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “We had to sit and wait for a long period, and it’s quite disruptive. You’re warming up, getting ready, and then suddenly you’re told to stop. It’s hard to stay focused and keep your body ready. But we stayed professional, stuck together, and once we got back out there, we showed our quality.”
Players and fans were directed to move indoors at Bank of America Stadium, forcing a temporary suspension of the match, and the game resumed nearly two hours later in front of a partially returned crowd.
Mixed Impact
Benfica initially struggled to break through Chelsea’s defence before the delay. However, after the nearly two-hour weather interruption, they came back with renewed energy. Angel Di Maria equalized in injury time with a penalty following a VAR review, showing the team’s determination to fight back despite the long pause
Tactically, the disruption seemed to benefit Benfica momentarily. The delay allowed them to regroup and adjust, which led to their late equalizer. However, they couldn’t maintain that momentum in extra time, eventually conceding three more goals.
Also Read: Sakaja’s Nairobi United’s Remarkable Journey to Mozzart Bet Cup Final
“It’s not easy for any team to go through a two-hour break and come back with the same intensity. We tried to stay sharp, and I’m proud of how we fought back to equalize. But playing with ten men in extra time made it very difficult,” Benfica’s coach Roger Schmidt stated in the post-match conference, dodging the weather issue.
FIFA response
FIFA declined to comment when asked about the repeated weather delays and the suitability of the U.S. as a host.
The board is now working with the U.S. National Weather Service to develop city-specific weather hazard plans, including real-time meteorologist support in each host city.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
