England head into unknown territory at this World Cup when they face Norway in Miami on Saturday – playing in searing temperatures that the global players’ union considers too dangerous for the game to go ahead.
The Three Lions have been largely shielded from excess heat in North America. Their schedule has included indoor matches in Dallas and Atlanta, and the three they have played outdoors – in Boston, New Jersey and Mexico City – have been in cooler, damper conditions. The warmest England have played in was 25C for the final group game against Panama, but that featured overcast skies.
“England face potentially dangerous heat in Miami as they take on Norway in a World Cup quarter-final, with temperatures feeling like 41C.”
That changes on Saturday for their quarter-final tie (kick-off 22:00 BST). Conditions in Miami will be hot and humid. While air temperatures are likely to sit about 33C (91F), once humidity is added it will feel like about 41C (106F). The afternoon temperature in Miami is forecast to climb to a scorching 34C before the match begins, with high humidity making the stadium feel closer to a suffocating 43C on the pitch.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for the area on Saturday, warning that high temperatures and humidity may cause heat-related illnesses. It is advising people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and stay out of the sun.
Alongside the high temperatures, there is a risk of thunderstorms near the start of the match. The US National Weather Service has also issued official alerts for intense thunderstorms and potential lightning strikes. Safety regulations dictate that any electrical activity within an eight-mile radius will cause an automatic 30-minute delay. England are already familiar with severe weather disruptions: their round of 16 match against Mexico was delayed by a full hour due to a dangerous thunderstorm.
The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – an index used by Fifa to help keep players safe – will sit around 29C to 32C. In its guidelines for playing in heat, the players’ union Fifpro says a WBGT above 28C should lead to the “delay or postponement of matches” until conditions are safer. However, there is no suggestion that the game will not take place.
Norway have played all but one of their matches outdoors – the exception being their last-32 victory over Ivory Coast in the air-conditioned Dallas Stadium. Their 2-1 victory over Brazil on Sunday was played outside while New Jersey was under a US National Weather Service extreme heat warning.
If England prevail at the Hard Rock Stadium, a massive semi-final showdown awaits.