The England vs Norway match, scheduled to take place at midnight at the start of Sunday in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup, is threatened with postponement due to the significant rise in temperatures in the American city of Miami.
According to the Daily Mail newspaper, the authorities in southern Florida declared a state of danger due to the heat wave, as temperatures are expected to range between 29 and 32 degrees Celsius, while the perceived temperature may reach 44 degrees Celsius coinciding with the match kickoff time.
The city of Miami issued a warning to residents, urging them to drink plenty of water, wear light clothing, avoid outdoor activities during peak hours, and stay in air-conditioned places as much as possible.
In contrast, the world professional players' association FIFPRO recommends postponing or delaying matches if the temperature exceeds 28 degrees Celsius to preserve players' safety.
Nevertheless, the report confirmed that there is no intention yet on the part of the organizing committee or the International Federation of Football to change the match start time.
The England national team had faced similar conditions in the round of 16 match against Mexico, which was postponed for an hour due to thunderstorms, before the Three Lions achieved a 3-2 victory and qualified for the quarter-finals.
The British government also announced the extension of pub opening hours in England and Wales until 30 minutes after the end of the match, in anticipation of any delay in the match start time, to ensure fans can watch the full match.
