In Charlotte, North Carolina, there has been significant backlash from Chelsea’s coach, Enzo Maresca, regarding FIFA’s decision to host the Club World Cup in the United States. His criticism followed a Saturday matchup with Benfica which experienced a two-hour delay due to lightning, extending the game to nearly five hours.
The audience was asked to leave the stands at Bank of America Stadium only four minutes before full-time due to the sixth weather delay out of the first 50 tournament encounters. Interestingly, it never rained at the stadium location itself. Despite the disruptions, Chelsea prevailed, defeating Benfica 4-1 during extra time.
Maresca expressed his concerns, noting, “If they are already suspending six, seven, eight games, probably there is something that is not working well,” and proclaimed that the U.S. “is not the right place to do this competition.”
The tournament has grappled with extreme heat, with temperatures nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius) at some sites during daytime games. These games were scheduled purposefully to align with European television viewership. Several matches have faced delays due to rain complications.
During the prolonged delay on Saturday, Benfica attempted a comeback and managed to equalize with a penalty during stoppage time.
Reece James, captain of Chelsea, shared the players’ struggle, noting, “We had to sit and wait for a long period, and it’s quite disruptive.”
As FIFA gears up for next year’s expanded 48-team World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, it faces increasing scrutiny. Criticism has been aimed at pitch conditions, match schedules, and how it manages adverse weather conditions.