The match against Puerto Rico at Austin’s Q2 Stadium was stopped with 69 minutes remaining and the score at 0-0 due to severe weather – with a significant gap of almost two hours required before the match could resume in time to avoid a wash-out Saudi Arabia’s warm-up match to the 2026 FIFA World Cup preparation against Puerto Rico in Texas was suspended due to a heavy thunderstorm for nearly two hours with both sides out in the 21st minute to avoid danger.
In Austin, Q2 Stadium saw play stopped as dangerous weather conditions led to the postponement, and multiple strikes of lightning caused tournament safety officials to stop the games.
But the storm cleared and allowed Saudi Arabia to carry on and take a 3-0 friendly win, which comes as weather concerns rise with the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is set to start on June 11 across the US, Canada and Mexico, with many tournament venues in the midst of the thunderstorm season.
According to competition laws, once a lightning strike is registered within an eight-mile proximity to the stadiums, play is immediately suspended and a mandatory wait period of 30 minutes takes place, with that countdown restarting again when lightning is seen.
Weather analysts also predict there will be an issue with the intense heat at this year’s competition too. Saudi Arabia ends the World Cup prep against Senegal before beginning group matches against Uruguay in Miami on June 15th, along with Spain and Cape Verde.
