Storm Delay
Severe Florida Thunderstorm Delays England's Final World Cup Warm-Up Match
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The Football Association confirmed the delay with an explicit statement at 7:41 p.m. BST: “Today’s game against Costa Rica has been delayed due to weather conditions in Orlando. ‘We’ll provide further updates as soon as we have them.’” It also noted the match would kick off “at 10pm BST ‘subject to there being no further lightning strikes in the area.’”
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While the stadium was largely empty, England fans were warned directly on the big screen with a message shown inside the venue: “Lightning strikes. Please seek shelter.”
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The delay echoed a previous England warm-up disruption: the outlet notes England’s 2014 pre-World Cup friendly versus Honduras in Miami was delayed by 45 minutes (mid-match) after a thunderstorm.
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Fan-safety guidance included unusual local measures—some supporters “went inside a local library” to avoid the worst of the weather, while others had to shelter where they could outside.
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Jude Bellingham’s shift into a No. 10 role was framed as part of an internal race for the World Cup lineup: the report says Bellingham was competing for the shirt “in a two-way fight with Morgan Rogers” ahead of next week’s opener against Croatia.
England's final pre-World Cup warm-up against Costa Rica was delayed by nearly two hours after a violent thunderstorm hit Orlando, Florida, leaving the Inter&Co Stadium pitch waterlogged and forcing fans to seek shelter. The Football Association confirmed the hold-up at 7:41 p.m. BST, saying the game would restart "subject to there being no further lightning strikes in the area." Sky Sports reported the match eventually kicked off at 10:45 p.m. BST — 1 hour and 45 minutes late.
England won 3-0, with goals from Declan Rice, Anthony Gordon, and a late header, according to Yahoo Sports. Manager Thomas Tuchel called his squad fully ready for the World Cup. England now travel to their base in Kansas City ahead of their opener against Croatia next week.
Lightning Shuts Down Stadium for Nearly Two Hours
The National Weather Service had flagged a 70% chance of afternoon storms for Orlando on June 11 — typical for Central Florida in June. When lightning struck within 4.2 miles of the stadium, officials activated the venue's safety protocol. Screens inside Inter&Co Stadium flashed a direct warning: "Lightning strikes. Please seek shelter." Fans in the stands were pushed to the concourses. Those outside had to find cover wherever they could.
Some supporters were not so lucky. According to Yahoo Sports, a group of fans ended up sheltering inside a nearby public library after stadium concourses filled up. The FA said player and fan safety were "non-negotiable priorities." Under U.S. outdoor event rules, play cannot resume until 30 minutes pass with no lightning strike within the safety radius — and every new strike resets that clock.
Bellingham Battles Rogers for the No. 10 Shirt
Once play finally started, Tuchel used the match to test key selection calls. Jude Bellingham played in an attacking No. 10 role — a shift away from the deeper position he has held in past lineups. Sky Sports confirmed Declan Rice and Noni Madueke were also in the starting XI, signaling Tuchel's preferred 4-2-3-1 setup.
Bellingham's place in that role is not guaranteed. Reports from Sky Sports say he is in a "two-way fight with Morgan Rogers" for the attacking midfield spot ahead of the Croatia opener. Bellingham said the delay was "frustrating" but added that it gave the squad time to "talk through the press in the dressing room." Rogers' strong training form has created what analysts call a genuine selection headache for Tuchel.
Florida Storms Have Haunted England Before
This is not the first time Central Florida's weather has disrupted England's World Cup buildup. In 2014, a pre-tournament friendly against Honduras in Miami was suspended for 45 minutes in the middle of the match after a thunderstorm. According to Border Telegraph, the FA keeps scheduling Florida warm-ups to give players a taste of the heat and humidity they will face at North American venues — even knowing the risk.
Meteorologists note that 4:00 p.m. kickoffs in June are "statistically high-risk" in Florida because of diurnal heating — the process where afternoon sun supercharges storm activity. Orlando recorded 2.4 inches of rain in just 90 minutes during the delay. Evening kickoffs, experts say, are the only reliable way to avoid these storms.
Tuchel Declares England Ready Despite the Chaos
Despite the disruption, Tuchel was upbeat after the 3-0 win. He told reporters he was convinced England were set for an "amazing" World Cup, according to Yahoo Sports. The result stretched England's record run to nine consecutive wins at neutral or away venues. Tuchel praised his squad's mental focus, calling the storm delay a "test" that the players passed.
The win came at a cost to the schedule. The delay forced a late revision to England's travel plans. The squad flew to Kansas City — roughly 1,200 miles away, about a three-hour flight — later than planned. A recovery session scheduled for the following morning may have been affected by the late arrival, according to Border Telegraph.
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