Chelsea Coach Slams Frequent Storm Interruptions in Club World Cup

Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, USA - In a world where the beautiful game is often interrupted by the elements, the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 has become a stage for a stormy spectacle, both on and off the pitch. Enzo Maresca, the manager of Chelsea, has voiced his frustration regarding the plethora of game suspensions due to severe weather conditions. With six matches affected, the ongoing tournament has raised eyebrows, as the disruptions cast a long shadow over the tournament’s integrity.

Perhaps most notably, during a crucial encounter against Benfica held at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, a thunderstorm halted the match at the 85th minute, with Chelsea leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from Reece James earlier in the match. As reported by Marca, the game remained suspended for more than two hours, raising questions about player focus and game rhythm. Maresca emphasized how such interruptions negatively impact players‘ concentration, which is crucial in high-stakes matches.

Victories can be won and lost in the blink of an eye—a sentiment illustrated as the game resumed, leading to a dramatic finish where Benfica equalized with a last-gasp penalty from Ángel Di María. The match eventually went into extra time, where Chelsea triumphed 4-1, yet the lingering issue of how weather-related suspensions affect the game remained unresolved. As noted in Estadio Deportes, with this match being the longest in the tournament’s history, total playtime stretched to an astonishing four hours and forty minutes.

Lightning Strikes Again

The interruption was not an isolated incident. Games such as Pachuca vs. Salzburg faced interruptions lasting over an hour, while Benfica earlier struggled with a two-and-a-half-hour delay against Auckland City, as highlighted by La Opinión. The U.S. protocols demand immediate evacuation upon close lightning strikes, underscoring the necessary caution during stormy weather but also revealing a flaw in tournament logistics.

With the world looking forward to the 2026 World Cup, these ongoing disturbances spark concern regarding the future of match organization and scheduling. The repetitive nature of these suspensions raises urgent calls for enhanced infrastructure, greater covered facilities, and alternative scheduling strategies to minimize disruptions in upcoming competitions.

Amid the chaos and unpredictable weather, Chelsea has demonstrated resilience, advancing to the quarterfinals where they will face Palmeiras. But one can’t help but wonder—are we witnessing a tournament that inched a bit too close to nature’s fury?