FIFA has no contingency plan in place if a final-round World Cup group match is delayed or abandoned due to severe weather — a gap in the regulations that could hand some teams a significant competitive advantage.

The simultaneous kick-off rule

Since the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, FIFA has required the final two matches in every group to kick off at exactly the same time. The rule was introduced in the wake of the notorious 'Disgrace of Gijón' at the 1982 tournament in Spain, when West Germany beat Austria 1-0 in a result that conveniently sealed qualification for both sides at Algeria's expense. Neither team made any meaningful effort to alter the scoreline once West Germany had scored in the 10th minute.

Article 12.4 of the official World Cup 2026 regulations reinforces that tradition, stating that "the last two matches in each group shall have simultaneous kick-off times on the same day, unless stipulated otherwise by FIFA (e.g. in cases of force majeure)."

The problem with weather delays

However, The Times has reported that FIFA has not established any protocol to address what happens if one of two simultaneously scheduled final-group fixtures is hit by a prolonged weather stoppage. If one match is delayed, the other would continue — meaning the teams in the paused game could eventually return to the pitch knowing exactly what result they need to advance.

The issue is not theoretical. On Monday, France's 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia was halted for two hours at half-time after thunderstorms made it unsafe to resume play in the Group I fixture. Had that been a final-round match, the implications could have been far-reaching.

If a game were abandoned entirely due to bad weather, World Cup regulations state it would be replayed from the exact minute it stopped — giving both teams time to reassess their tactical approach before returning to complete the fixture.

Teams with a stake in the outcome

Several sides could be directly affected by this regulatory blind spot. England face Panama in New Jersey at 10pm BST on Saturday in Group L, kicking off at the same time as Croatia's match against Ghana in Philadelphia. England are separated from Ghana at the top of the group only by goal difference.

Scotland, meanwhile, face Brazil in Miami tonight at 11pm BST. They sit third in Group C, one point behind second-placed Morocco, who take on Haiti in Atlanta in the simultaneous fixture.

Until FIFA addresses this gap, the integrity of the final group stage round remains exposed to the unpredictability of the weather.