2026 World Cup: Norway vs. England in Jeopardy—Here’s What’s Happening
A new weather nightmare looms over another match in the 2026 World Cup. Even the highly anticipated Norway-England quarterfinal, scheduled for 5 p.m. local time on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami (11 p.m. Italian time), risks having its kickoff delayed or even the entire match postponed. The cause lies in the extreme heat wave that has hit South Florida. In fact, there is talk of a heat index that could reach 44° C, partly due to extremely high humidity.
The City of Miami had issued an official warning to residents earlier in the day, urging them to stay hydrated as much as possible and to limit outdoor activities to only what is absolutely necessary. FIFPRO, the global players’ union, also calls for matches to be rescheduled even if temperatures exceed 28° C. If it is ultimately decided to reschedule the match against Norway, this would be the second time for England at the 2026 World Cup: the kickoff for the match against Mexico was delayed by over an hour from the scheduled time, though in that case it was due to the risk of thunderstorms and, above all, lightning strikes at the stadium.
After all, this wouldn’t be the first time in this tournament that the heat has put a match at risk. In Philadelphia, during the Round of 16 match between France and Paraguay, the thermometer hit 38°C, with heat index readings nearing 46° given humidity levels above 40%. As noted by The New York Times, never in World Cup history had a match been played in such scorching temperatures, surpassing even the record set on June 24, 1994, when Ireland and Mexico faced off in Orlando and the field temperature exceeded 43°. On that occasion, organizers had set up dozens of misting stations along the route to the stadium and ten free water distribution points.
On the sports front, the lead-up to the Norway-England match is already fraught with tension and twists. The Norwegian team is concerned about a stomach virus that has affected several members of the squad following their historic victory over Brazil: some players are experiencing fatigue, stomachaches, and a mild fever. Head coach Stale Solbakken himself is not feeling his best and could not hide the problem during the press conference. Among those most affected is reportedly Marcus Holmgren Pedersen, who was already absent against Brazil, while Erling Haaland—who has scored seven goals in the five matches he’s played in this World Cup—is said to be symptom-free for now.
England, for its part, must deal with two significant absences. Defender Jarell Quansah has been suspended for two matches by FIFA following his red card against Mexico, a decision that has infuriated British fans, especially given the different treatment meted out to the American Balogun, who was spared after Donald Trump intervened directly with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Added to this is the setback suffered by Jordan Henderson, who slipped while jumping over an advertising billboard during the post-match celebrations at Azteca Stadium, fracturing his left forearm. The midfielder has nevertheless chosen to remain at the national team’s training camp to support his teammates.
Despite these absences, Thomas Tuchel is expected to field his usual starting lineup, with Harry Kane—who has scored six goals so far in the tournament—leading the attack. They’ll face a Norwegian team that, by reaching the quarterfinals, has already written its finest chapter in World Cup history. For England, on the other hand, this is a clash with destiny: the Three Lions are seeking a return to the semifinals after finishing fourth in 2018, dreaming of replicating the feat of 1966, when they lifted the only World Cup title in their history on home soil.
