The looming threat that could derail England's 2026 World Cup preparations
England’s 2026 World Cup build-up could be disrupted by a factor very much out of their control
England have touched down in the United States ahead of their bid to win a first World Cup trophy in 60 long years – but their preparations could be derailed by extreme weather as America braces for what promises to be a difficult summer.
England get their build-up underway with a week-long training camp in West Palm Beach in Florida which will be based around friendly matches against New Zealand in Tampa Bay and Costa Rice in Orlando. With the weather starting to turn for the worse and no indoor facilities available, however, the Three Lions may not get as much time on the pitch as they would like…
Why storms could impact England’s training camp in the United States
England’s training camp at West Palm Beach reportedly lacks full indoor training facilities, which could be an issue as the hot weather begins to become more stormy over the coming week.
While the forecast for England’s first few days in Florida, including for Saturday’s game at the Raymond James Stadium - which typically hosts Tampa Bay Buccaneers games in the NFL and features a full-size pirate ship built into one corner of the arena – is free from storms, there is a growing risk of thunder, lightning and rain next week as England prepare for their second warm-up match against Costa Rica.
Saturday’s opponents, New Zealand, have already had a pre-tournament friendly against Haiti delayed by 36 minutes due to stormy conditions, while similar delays hit the Club World Cup in the United States last summer.
Chelsea’s game against Benfica, for example, was delayed mid-match by around two hours, with FIFA rules stating that games will be delayed indefinitely as they are played by dangerous weather conditions as they attempt to avoid the possibility of rescheduling games in a schedule which is already bursting at the seams following the expansion to 48 teams.
Even if England’s friendly matches remain unaffected by the weather, there is a strong chance of delays at their outdoor training facility while storms pass overhead, which could disrupt the programme laid down by Thomas Tuchel’s coaching staff. Stormy showers appear in the forecast for several days next week, along with humid conditions and temperatures which are expected to soar over 30 degrees Celsius.
After their camp in Florida, England will move to a training facility in Kansas City which will act as their base of operations for the rest of the tournament.
Will storms affect the 2026 World Cup?
Concerns over the stormy weather won’t only affect England – the forecast for the entire tournament is increasingly worrying, with meteorologists predicting that an El Niño weather event is due to start within a matter of weeks.
El Niño is a natural phenomenon which can cause extreme weather conditions including lightning storms and hurricanes, and this year’s event is predicted to be especially severe. The UN has warned countries around the globe to prepare for its impact.
Rising global temperatures are believed to be a factor in the expected increase in severity of the weather caused by El Niño, and while predicting the exact impact and timing of the phenomenon is challenging, there is a possibility that it causes adverse weather conditions during the 2026 World Cup.
Disruption could begin in time to affect the opening game of the tournament between co-hosts Mexico and South Africa on 11 July. Meteorologist Alex Duffus of AccuWeather has suggested that there is an “increasing risk of rain and thunderstorms around Mexico City for the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. This surge of tropical moisture… could grow into something more significant.”
The extent of the potential disruption and the danger that extreme weather could cause is difficult to forecast, creating potential headaches for FIFA as it works to avoid the necessity of cancelling or moving matches in a packed schedule which leaves little room for movement.