Social media was abuzz with outrage as football fans expressed anger over the prolonged suspension of Chelsea’s round of 16 match against Benfica during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, due to adverse weather conditions in the United States.
The London-based club was leading 1-0, thanks to Reece James’ goal, until the 85th minute when the match was suspended for nearly two hours due to severe weather at the stadium.
Initially, the game was expected to resume within 30 minutes, but tournament regulations require that in the event of a storm or thunderstorm, the match must remain suspended until weather conditions are deemed safe.
The intensity of the storm forced match officials to delay the game significantly, taking the contest deep into the night.
When play resumed, Malo Gusto’s handball in the box handed Benfica a penalty, which Ángel Di María converted to equalise.
Chelsea, however, capitalised on their numerical advantage after Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was sent off, scoring three more goals through Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall to seal a commanding 4-1 victory.
The long suspension sparked furious reactions from fans online, with many criticising the decision to host such an important tournament in a country where weather conditions can severely disrupt matches.
Some fans went as far as to call for the United States to be stripped of the rights to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup if solutions are not found to prevent similar interruptions.
Others took aim at FIFA, accusing the governing body of failing to implement proactive measures to mitigate such risks and putting the safety of players and supporters at risk.
However, FIFA official and former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger defended the decision, saying that the weather protocols in place are designed to prioritise the safety of everyone involved.
SB/MA
Read the comments below:
How is the organization is this??
Absouletly shameless
We dont want the USA as a host at WC next year— Rafa 🇹🇷 (@enfectus1903) June 28, 2025
🚨⚠️ Enzo Maresca: “It’s not football to suspend a game for two hours. It’s not acceptable”. pic.twitter.com/ItSHQR2ccZ
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 29, 2025
It’s good all these are happening now so @FIFAcom can rethink about organization and schedule for the World Cup..
just imagine a final World Cup match and this happens— WilliamNotWilliams (@KeepOnFooling) June 29, 2025
Why do World Cups games (inc. CWC) keep getting played in venues that aren’t suitable to play football. It seems either too hot or it’s regularly deemed dangerous to play due to the weather. Qatar World Cup even had to be moved to winter and will probably be the same with Saudi.
— Andy (@Bluenose_Andy) June 28, 2025
This is officially a joke! Whose idea was it to play this competition in US?
I’m tired, the hate watchers are tired, analysts are tired, when can we sleep???
FIFA should compensate teams for this.
Time delays is expensive in a tight competition like this..— Frank Akiba 🧬 (@FrankAkiba060) June 28, 2025
Shouldn’t have been played in US its first time.
Europe for me to try and get it running off the ground first – but obviously money talks.
— Stickus Maximus Stonus 17th (@Stix_n_stones22) June 29, 2025
World cups going to be fun next summer!! Storms, tornados, hurricanes….
— yater🏄♂️🌊🕶 (@yater1) June 28, 2025
When you FIFA decided to go for the money and neglected proper planning. The tournament’s Organization is too poor.
— Joseph D (@Douyi4u) June 28, 2025
This organizers of club world cup and world cup in USA should be investigated or we quit being football fan……this is so shittttyttyy
— Mohamed Adan (@MohamedAdanArab) June 28, 2025
Meanwhile, watch as historian Annam details how Swedru All Blacks started as a military club
