World Cup weather: High storm risk for France vs Iraq, likely rain in Norway vs Senegal
World Cup weather: High storm risk for France vs Iraq, likely rain in Norway vs Senegal
France fans could get wet today Thomas SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images
By Aaron MentkowskiJune 22, 2026 Updated June 23, 2026 11:52 am EDTThe Athletic has live coverage of Portugal vs Uzbekistan and England vs Ghana at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
This World Cup is going to be hot and at times stormy, with a sizeable chunk of its 104 games set to be played above 90F (32C).
Spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, it is likely to be the warmest edition since the previous time the tournament was held in North America, when the U.S. hosted it solo in 1994.
While extreme heat and humidity will affect how matches are played, thunderstorms could provide the greater logistical challenge.
Under the thunderstorm protocol in place in the States, a match must be suspended if lightning or electrical discharge is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium involved.
Once that happens, a 30-minute countdown begins, but resets if another strike is detected before it ends. Last summer, for example, Chelsea’s Club World Cup game against Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina, took four hours and 38 minutes to complete after repeated lightning delays.
To help understand which games will be most affected, The Athletic is working with Aaron Mentkowski, chief meteorologist at WKBW-TV Buffalo, to provide a daily forecast. Aaron will join live coverage to explain what’s happening during storm delays.
Argentina vs Austria
AT&T Stadium, Arlington. Kick-off: 12 p.m, local time.
An indoor match, so no weather worries for the game. Another hot and humid day is expected in Dallas. Cloudy skies with showers and thunderstorms this morning. Skies will be clearing this afternoon. At 12 p.m. expect partly sunny skies with a 40 per cent chance of rain, temperatures warming to near 85F (29C). Temperatures after the game will be near 90F (32C). Winds out of the south at 10 to 20 miles per hour.
France vs Iraq
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia. Kick-off: 5pm, local time.
This match will need to be monitored very closely for rain and thunderstorms. A Flood Watch is in effect from 2 p.m. today through this evening. The forecast calls for heavy rain and potential severe storms to arrive this afternoon (90 per cent chance of rain). Forecast computer models have the rain arriving between 4 and 7 p.m. Temperatures near 80 F(27C) at 5 p.m. Winds will be southerly at 5 to 15 miles per hour. Temperatures will stay near 80F (27C) during the match as well. I will be monitoring the weather for this match with live blog updates.
Norway vs Senegal
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ. Kick-off: 8 p.m, local time
Another match where the weather could impact the game. The same system that will bring rain to the game in Philadelphia will be impacting this match. There is a Flood Watch beginning at 2 p.m. Expect showers and thundershowers today with a high temperature of 77F(25C). As the match begins at 8.p.m, the temperature will be near 70F (19C) with mostly cloudy skies and a 70 per cent chance of thunderstorms. Winds will be southerly at 5 to 10 miles per hour. I will be monitoring the weather for this match with live blog updates.
Jordan vs Algeria
Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California. Kick-off: 8pm, local time
The weather looks great for pre-game festivities with mostly sunny skies and temperatures near 80F(27C) when the game starts at 8 p.m. the temperature will be 68F (20C). The sun will set at 8:32 p.m. and temperature will drop to near 65F (18C) by the end of the match. Winds will be northwesterly 5 to 10 miles per hour.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
