Norway v Senegal at risk of being abandoned just hours before kick off

The World Cup group game between Norway and Senegal could be at risk of being called off just hours before kick-off.

Erling Haaland's Norway are set to take on Senegal in a crucial World Cup Group I match in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Monday (22 June), with kick-off coming at 8pm local time (1am BST).

Norway are currently top of their group, having won 4-1 against Iraq, while Senegal are third following a 3-1 loss to France.

However, their match is the latest to be cast into serious doubt due to severe thunderstorm warnings in the area.

New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani warned locals about the storm during a news conference on Monday, saying: "NYCEM [NYC Emergency Management] has issued a travel advisory, and with Norway Senegal kicking off this evening at New York, New Jersey Stadium, we have also issued a gridlock alert.

"We are encouraging New Yorkers to budget extra time for your commutes tonight. Exercise caution when you travel, take public transit whenever you can."

The concerns come as the other game in Group I, France vs Iraq, was also put into jeopardy earlier on Monday as the storm hit Philadelphia.

It's scheduled to kick off 5pm local time (10pm in the UK) and looks set to go ahead after the stadium was finally opened to fans.

The games are in doubt due to the local authority requirements set out by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which states that a game must be paused or delayed if lightning strikes within eight miles of a stadium and can't resume or start until no lightning is detected again for at least 30 minutes.

In such a scenario, fans must be removed from their seats while players must leave the pitch to take shelter.

Official NOAA guidance states that activities must be stopped when 'you see lightning', 'you hear thunder', or 'the skies look threatening'.

What happens if World Cup games are postponed?

According to The Sun, the Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, was evacuated more than three hours before France vs Iraq is set to get underway.

An announcement was reportedly made at 1:45pm local time over the PA system, which said: "Attention World Cup staff. Due to incoming weather, take cover in the stadium as directed by stadium staff."

Though there were no fans in the stadium at the time, all staff were forced to vacate the open-air bowl to take cover.

A further message added: "We have active lightning strikes in the area so please leave the pitch area and the seating area and seek shelter in covered areas," while a written message on the giant screens warned a 'severe thunderstorm is approaching'.

Should the game be postponed, the fixture could be rearranged for the following day (June 23) under FIFA protocol.

Speaking to NBC10, Lauren Lambrugo, Chief Operating Officer of Philadelphia Soccer 2026, was asked if the match could be called off and said: "They will make sure that the match is broadcast and played tomorrow."

Thankfully, the rain stopped just before 2:30pm local time and an announcement confirmed that fans and staff could return to the stadium bowl. Taking to X, the official Lincoln Financial Field account posted: "Weather Update - Gates are now open."

There were concerns ahead of the World Cup that games could be hit with lengthy delays, with England's final friendly before the tournament against Costa Rica pushed back an hour due to a storm.

On the prospect of a match being postponed, FIFA regulations state if a 'match cannot be played or is abandoned as a result of force majeure, the authorised FIFA organising body (including the Tournament Operation Centre) shall decide on the matter at its sole discretion and take whatever action is deemed necessary'.

World Cup 2026 fixture schedule and UK kick off times

Monday, 22 June

Group G: New Zealand vs Egypt, kick-off 2am - Vancouver, Canada

Group J: Argentina vs Austria, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, US

Group I: France vs Iraq, kick-off 10pm - Philadelphia, US

Tuesday, 23 June

Group I: Norway vs Senegal, kick-off 1am - Toronto, Canada

Group J: Jordan vs Algeria, kick-off 4am - Santa Clara, US

Group K: Portugal vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 6pm - Houston, US

Group L: England vs Ghana, kick-off 9pm - Foxborough, US

Wednesday, 24 June

Group L: Panama vs Croatia, kick-off 12am - Foxborough, US

Group K: Colombia vs DR Congo, kick-off 3am - Zapopan, Mexico

Group B: Switzerland vs Canada, kick-off 8pm - Vancouver, Canada

Group B: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Qatar, kick-off 8pm - Seattle, US

Group C: Morocco vs Haiti, kick-off 11pm - Atlanta, US

Group C: Scotland vs Brazil, kick-off 11pm - Miami, US

Thursday, 25 June

Group A: South Africa vs South Korea, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, Mexico

Group A: Czech Republic vs Mexico, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, Mexico

Group E: Curacao vs Ivory Coast, kick-off 9pm - Philadelphia, US

Group E: Ecuador vs Germany, kick-off 9pm - New Jersey, US

Friday, 26 June

Group F: Tunisia vs Netherlands, kick-off 12am - Kansas City, US

Group F: Japan vs Sweden, kick-off 12am - Arlington, US

Group D: Turkey vs USA, kick-off 3am - Los Angeles, US

Group D: Paraguay vs Australia, kick-off 3am - Santa Clara, US

Group I: Norway vs France, kick-off 8pm - Foxborough, US

Group I: Senegal vs Iraq, kick-off 8pm - Toronto, Canada

Saturday, 27 June

Group H: Cape Verde vs Saudi Arabia, kick-off 1am - Houston, US

Group H: Uruguay vs Spain, kick-off 1am - Zapopan, Mexico

Group G: New Zealand vs Belgium, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, Canada

Group G: Egypt vs Iran, kick-off 4am - Seattle, US

Group L: Panama vs England, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, US

Group L: Croatia vs Ghana, kick-off 10pm - Philadelphia, US

Sunday, 28 June

Group K: Colombia vs Portugal, kick-off 12.30am - Miami, US

Group K: DR Congo vs Uzbekistan, kick-off 12.30am - Atlanta, US

Group J: Algeria vs Austria, kick-off 3am - Kansas City, US

Group J: Jordan vs Argentina, kick-off 3am - Arlington, US

Round of 32 - Match 73: Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, US

Monday, 29 June

Round of 32 - Match 76: Group C winners vs Group F runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Houston, US

Round of 32 - Match 74: Group E winners vs Group A/B/C/D/F third place, kick-off 9.30pm - Foxborough, US

Tuesday, 30 June

Round of 32 - Match 75: Group F winners vs Group C runners-up, kick-off 2am - Guadalupe, Mexico

Round of 32 - Match 78: Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-up, kick-off 6pm - Arlington, US

Round of 32 - Match 77: Group I winners vs Group C/D/F/G/H third place, kick-off 10pm - New Jersey, US

Wednesday, 1 July

Round of 32 - Match 79: Group A winners vs Group C/E/F/H/I third place, kick-off 2am - Mexico City, Mexico

Round of 32 - Match 80: Group L winners vs Group E/H/I/J/K third place, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, US

Round of 32 - Match 82: Group G winners vs Group A/E/H/I/J third place, kick-off 9pm - Seattle, US

Thursday, 2 July

Round of 32 - Match 81: Group D winners vs Group B/E/F/I/J third place, kick-off 1am - Santa Clara, US

Round of 32 - Match 84: Group H winners vs Group J runners-up, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, US

Friday, 3 July

Round of 32 - Match 83: Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-up, kick-off 12am - Toronto, Canada

Round of 32 - Match 85: Group B winners vs Group E/F/G/I/J third place, kick-off 4am - Vancouver, Canada

Round of 32 - Match 88: Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-up, kick-off 7pm - Arlington, US

Round of 32 - Match 86: Group J winners vs Group H runners-up, kick-off 11pm - Miami, US

Saturday, 4 July

Round of 32 - Match 87: Group K winners vs Group D/E/I/J/L third place, kick-off 2.30am - Kansas City, US

Round of 16 - Match 90: Match 73 winners vs Match 75 winners, kick-off 6pm - Houston, US

Round of 16 - Match 89: Match 74 winners vs Match 77 winners, kick-off 10pm - Philadelphia, US

Sunday, 5 July

Round of 16 - Match 91: Match 76 winners vs Match 78 winners, kick-off 9pm - New Jersey, US

Monday, 6 July

Round of 16 - Match 92: Match 79 winners vs Match 80 winners, kick-off 1am - Mexico City, Mexico

Round of 16 - Match 93: Match 83 winners vs Match 84 winners, kick-off 8pm - Arlington, US

Tuesday, 7 July

Round of 16 - Match 94: Match 81 winners vs Match 82 winners, kick-off 1am - Seattle, US

Round of 16 - Match 95: Match 86 winners vs Match 88 winners, kick-off 5pm - Atlanta, US

Round of 16 - Match 96: Match 85 winners vs Match 87 winners, kick-off 9pm - Vancouver, Canada

Thursday, 9 July

Quarter-final - Match 97: Match 89 winners vs Match 90 winners, kick-off 9pm - Foxborough, US

Friday, 10 July

Quarter-final - Match 98: Match 93 winners vs Match 94 winners, kick-off 8pm - Los Angeles, US

Saturday, 11 July

Quarter-final - Match 99: Match 91 winners vs Match 92 winners, kick-off 10pm - Miami, US

Sunday, 12 July

Quarter-final - Match 100: Match 95 winners vs Match 96 winners, kick-off 2am - Kansas City, US

Tuesday, 14 July

Semi-final - Match 101: Match 97 winners vs Match 98 winners, kick-off 8pm - Arlington, US

Wednesday, 15 July

Semi-final - Match 102: Match 99 winners vs Match 100 winners, kick-off 8pm - Atlanta, US

Saturday, 18 July

Third Place Playoff - Match 103: Match 101 losers vs Match 102 losers, kick-off 10pm - Miami, US

Sunday, 19 July

Final - Match 104: Match 101 winners vs Match 102 winners, kick-off 8pm - New Jersey, US