US should not host 2026 World Cup – Fans fume after prolonged suspension of Chelsea-Benfica game
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.
Read the comments below:
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
