CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca criticised FIFA for choosing the United States as the host of the Club World Cup after his team’s match against Benfica on Saturday was delayed by two hours due to an electrical storm near the stadium.
The round of 16 match, held at Bank of America Stadium, stretched nearly five hours before Chelsea ultimately defeated Benfica 4-1 in extra time. Play was halted with just four minutes remaining in regulation as fans were evacuated, even though no rain fell directly inside the venue.
It marked the sixth weather-related delay among the first 50 matches of the tournament.
“If they’re already suspending six, seven, eight games, there’s probably something that’s not working well,” Maresca said, arguing the U.S. “is not the right place to do this competition.”
High heat has also been a recurring issue, with temperatures nearing 100°F (38°C) during midday matches—timed to suit European TV audiences. Following Saturday’s delay, Benfica equalised in stoppage time through an Ángel Di María penalty before Chelsea pulled ahead decisively.
Chelsea captain Reece James noted the disruption, saying players “had to sit back and wait for a long period, and that’s quite disruptive.”
The expanded Club World Cup is seen as a precursor to next year’s 48-team World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. FIFA has faced growing criticism over pitch conditions, scheduling, and its response to extreme weather throughout the tournament.