Saudi Arabia's pre-World Cup friendly against Puerto Rico in Austin, Texas, was suspended for nearly two hours after thunderstorms and lightning swept through the area, forcing players from the pitch and sending fans scrambling for shelter.

The match at Q2 Stadium was stopped in the 21st minute following a series of lightning strikes. Play eventually resumed, with Saudi Arabia running out 3-0 winners.

World Cup weather rules explained

The incident shines a spotlight on the weather protocols that will govern the FIFA World Cup 2026, which begins on 11 June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico — right at the peak of the summer thunderstorm season in several host cities.

Under tournament rules, any lightning strike detected within eight miles of a stadium triggers an automatic suspension of play. A mandatory 30-minute countdown then begins, and the clock resets each time another strike is detected within that radius — meaning delays can compound rapidly.

Q2 Stadium will not host any World Cup fixtures, but two other Texas venues will. The Houston Stadium is scheduled to stage seven matches, while the Dallas Stadium will host nine, including England's group-stage clash against Croatia.

A pattern of weather disruptions

The delay in Austin is not an isolated incident. During last year's FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, Chelsea's last-16 tie against Benfica in Charlotte stretched to four hours and 39 minutes as multiple matches were halted by summer thunderstorms of the same kind.

Heat is also expected to pose a serious challenge at the tournament. Researchers have warned that temperatures at 14 of the 16 World Cup stadiums could breach dangerous thresholds at various points during the competition.

Saudi Arabia's road to the group stage

Saudi Arabia face Senegal in their final warm-up match on Wednesday before opening their World Cup campaign against Uruguay at the Miami Stadium on 15 June. They will then meet Spain in Atlanta on 21 June, before closing out Group H against Cape Verde in Houston on 27 June.