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The Club World Cup encounter between Palmeiras and Al Ahly was brought to a halt midway through the second half due to extreme weather conditions near MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. A lightning storm prompted officials to activate safety protocols, with play suspended in the 62nd minute as a precaution.
At the time of interruption, Palmeiras were leading 2-0, thanks to an own goal from Wessam Abou Ali shortly after halftime and a clinical finish by José Manuel López in the 59th minute. English referee Anthony Taylor made the decision to take the players off the pitch following a visible increase in lightning activity in the area.
The stadium's PA system and video screens quickly relayed safety instructions to those in attendance. A message displayed inside the arena read:
“For your safety, we will be asking everyone to leave the grandstand area and take shelter inside the stadium due to severe weather in the area. Event staff are on hand to direct and assist. Those on the field, please walk calmly to the nearest tunnel, West Concourse or service corridor.”
In a separate alert, spectators were again urged to follow safety directions:
"Your attention please. For your safety, we are going to have everyone leave the Seating Bowl area and take shelter inside the stadium because of severe weather in the area. Event staff are available to guide and assist you. Those on the field, please walk calmly to the nearest tunnel, to the West Hall, or to the service corridor."
Fans were moved to the stadium’s interior areas, while players returned to their dressing rooms. The delay lasted over 30 minutes, and organizers stated that the match would only resume once safety for everyone involved could be guaranteed.
Palmeiras, led by manager Abel Ferreira, had entered the match after a goalless draw against Porto. Their strong start against Al Ahly put them in a promising position to top Group A, with one match left to play.
Al Ahly, meanwhile, were looking to rebound from their own 0-0 stalemate with Inter Miami in their tournament opener. Both sides were chasing their first win in the newly expanded competition.
This isn’t the first time weather has disrupted play at the 2025 edition of the Club World Cup. Earlier in the week, RB Salzburg’s game against Pachuca was halted in Cincinnati after just 54 minutes due to a thunderstorm. The delay stretched over 90 minutes before play resumed, with Salzburg eventually securing a 2-1 win.
Similarly, the group stage meeting between Ulsan HD and Mamelodi Sundowns saw its kick-off pushed back by over an hour in Orlando due to another weather-related delay.
With no official time announced for resumption, the outcome of the Palmeiras–Al Ahly clash now hinges on when the weather improves. Match officials have emphasized that play will only restart when conditions are deemed fully safe.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay, Pexels / Helena Lopes
