Chelsea Advances After Two-Hour Club World Cup Weather Delay

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed strong frustration over the nearly two-hour delay in their FIFA Club World Cup match against Benfica due to severe weather conditions, calling the situation a 'joke' and questioning the suitability of the United States as a host for such tournaments. The game was halted in the 86th minute at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte because of lightning, forcing players and staff to wait inside for safety, which disrupted the flow and focus of the match. Chelsea had been leading 1-0 before the delay but conceded a controversial penalty shortly after play resumed, leading to a 1-1 draw at full time. Despite the interruptions and extended match duration of over four hours, Chelsea triumphed 4-1 after extra time, benefiting from a red card to a Benfica player. Maresca criticized the frequency of weather-related suspensions across multiple games in the tournament, emphasizing the challenges in maintaining player concentration during such prolonged breaks and calling into question FIFA's decision to hold the event in the U.S. ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Chelsea will face Palmeiras next in the quarter-finals, with Maresca hopeful but still critical of the organizational issues caused by weather disruptions.