Spain's preparations for the FIFA World Cup final suffered a disruption on Saturday when fierce thunderstorms swept across New York and New Jersey, forcing the cancellation of the team's final training session before Sunday's showpiece.

Luis de la Fuente's squad had been scheduled to use the Melanie Lane training ground in New Jersey. The session was first suspended following the arrival of severe weather, and FIFA later confirmed there would be no alternative slot for Spain to train on Saturday.

The Spanish football federation (RFEF) issued a statement explaining that the suspension was in line with US storm safety protocol, which requires all outdoor sporting activity to halt when lightning or electrical activity is detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue. Under the same protocol, play cannot resume until at least 30 minutes have passed without a further lightning strike.

"The Spanish national team's training session on the pitches at the Melanie Lane Training Ground in New Jersey has been suspended in accordance with the US storm safety protocol. The players are currently taking part in a warm-up session indoors," the RFEF said.

Across town in Morristown — roughly five miles from Spain's intended training location — defending champions Argentina were eventually able to get onto the pitch, though their own session started around 45 minutes late due to the same weather disruption.

The final stage is set

Spain and Argentina will face off in Sunday's final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST. Spain sealed their place in the decider with a commanding 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday, while Argentina came from behind to edge out England 2-1 on Wednesday in a dramatic late comeback.

The weather difficulties compounded an already challenging week for those in and around New York. On Saturday, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani urged residents to avoid unnecessary outdoor exposure, warning that the city was under a flood advisory and that conditions were dangerous. Earlier in the week, officials across New York and New Jersey had also issued an air quality health alert after haze from Canadian wildfires blanketed the region.