England vs Argentina won't be delayed after Atlanta stadium officials issue thunderstorms statement
England vs Argentina will kick off on time regardless of whether a thunderstorm hits Atlanta, Mercedes-Benz Stadium officials have confirmed to LADbible.
England take on Argentina in the World Cup semi-final on Wednesday, 15 July, as the fierce rivals battle it out for a place in the final on Sunday.
Weather has impacted England's World Cup knock-out campaign significantly and thunderstorms are forecast for Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday when the Three Lions are in town, leading to fears of more potential delays.
However, the Mercedes-Benz Stadium has a retractable roof which protects all those within from the elements, including any lightning or rain, which means the match will not be delayed or suspended, officials have told LADBible.
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"Since the stadium is covered, the match is not weather-dependent so it will be played as scheduled," a Mercedes-Benz Stadium spokesperson told LADbible.
That means the game is not at risk of being put on hold for at least 30 minutes if electrical activity is detected nearby, as per protocols.
When LADbible sought further clarification and asked if the match could be delayed before kick-off in the event of lightning strikes to ensure spectators could safely reach the stadium, the spokesperson made it clear the match would not be pushed back.
'The game will start as planned regardless of weather'
"No, it won’t be delayed, the game will start as planned regardless of weather," the spokesperson said.
"We will do everything we can to ensure the safety of fans, but it won’t delay the start of the game if fans are still entering the stadium or are delayed entering due to weather conditions.
"The roof allows us the ability to play on time regardless of weather."
The spokesperson added that as gates open three hours before kick-off that "if we are detecting weather in the area, we would do what we can to get fans in as soon as possible."
LADbible Group has also approached FIFA for comment.
FIFA has followed the United States' storm protocols, which come from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) recommendations, throughout the World Cup.
As a result, several tournament matches have either been delayed ahead of kick-off or seen play suspended when lightning has been detected within an 8-mile radius of the stadium.
However, that will not be the case for England's semi-final even if lightning does strike before or during the game.
According to AccuWeather, an 'afternoon thunder shower' has been forecast for Wednesday in Atlanta with a 33 per cent probability, as well as highs of 30C.
Thankfully, England's players won't feel the heat as the stadium is climate controlled to an on-pitch temperature of 22C.
Checking weather reports has become as important as injury lists during a World Cup which has been defined by extreme conditions.
Hydrations have been mandated for every match, officially due to player welfare in the high temperatures of co-hosts the USA, Mexico and Canada, and several matches have been hit with lengthy delays.
England's last 16 triumph over Mexico at high altitude in the Azteca was delayed by an hour due to thunderstorms in Mexico City and didn't kick off until 2am in the United Kingdom.
There was also concern that a storm would impact the quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami on Saturday, but it passed well before kick-off and the game got underway as scheduled.
England vs Argentina is set to kick-off at 8pm BST on Wednesday.
Daniel Murphy