World Cup weather: Stadium roof to the rescue with flood watch in Atlanta on Day Eight
AnalysisWorld Cup weather: Stadium roof to the rescue with flood watch in Atlanta on Day Eight
The closed roof at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will prevent storms from disrupting the action Omar Vega/Getty images
By Aaron MentkowskiJune 18, 2026 Updated June 19, 2026This 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 last 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.
Czech Republic vs South Africa
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia; kick-off at 12pm local time (ET)
No worries on the pitch as this game is indoors.
Good thing the match will be played indoors, as rain and strong winds will impact Atlanta today.
A flood watch is in effect all day. Showers and thundershowers will develop later this morning and increase in coverage this afternoon as the remnants of Tropical Storm Arthur approach.
It will be warm and humid with a high temperature of 84F (29C). Winds will be out of the south west at 10 to 15 miles per hour, gusting near 25 miles per hour.
Switzerland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California; kick-off at 12pm local time (PT)
Another game that will be played indoors.
It will be pleasant in Inglewood today. Clouds this morning will begin to thin out near 12pm.
Temperatures will be near 70F (21C) and winds will be westerly five to 10 miles per hour.
Canada vs Qatar
BC Place, Vancouver, Canada; kick-off at 3pm local time (PT)
Another indoor match that the weather will not impact.
Temperatures this afternoon will be near 70F (21C) under sunny skies.
It will be a bit breezy with winds out of the northwest at 20 miles per hour.
Mexico vs South Korea
Estadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico; kick-off at 7pm local time (CST)
The weather is going to be pleasant today with partly cloudy skies and a high temperature of 82F (28C).
At 7pm, skies are expected to be partly cloudy, with temperatures near 77F (25C).
The sun will set at 7:36pm. At 9pm, skies will be partly cloudy with a temperature near 70F (21C).
Winds will be westerly at five 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.'
