Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed strong frustration following a nearly two-hour weather delay during his team’s last-16 Club World Cup match against Benfica in Charlotte, North Carolina. The match, which Chelsea eventually won 4-1 after extra time, was suspended due to a thunderstorm, marking the sixth weather-related stoppage at the tournament.
Maresca described the prolonged interruption as "a joke" and said, "For me personally, it’s not football," highlighting how the delay disrupted the flow and tempo of the game. Chelsea had been controlling the match and leading 1-0 before the suspension, but after the break, Benfica equalized, forcing extra time where Chelsea regained dominance.
The Chelsea coach questioned the suitability of the United States as a host for the Club World Cup, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to take place across North America. He pointed out that suspending six or seven games due to weather is unprecedented compared to other major tournaments like the World Cup or European Championships, where such interruptions are rare or nonexistent.
Maresca acknowledged the necessity of suspensions for safety reasons but argued that the frequency of delays suggests the US may not be the ideal location for outdoor football events during this period. He said, "If you suspend seven or eight games, that probably means this is not the right place to do this competition."
The match itself lasted over four hours, with players forced off the pitch and fans evacuated for safety during the storm. Despite the disruption, Chelsea’s resilience shone through as they scored three unanswered goals in extra time to secure their place in the quarter-finals.
Maresca’s criticism adds to growing concerns about weather-related challenges at the tournament and raises questions about scheduling and venue selection for major football events in regions prone to summer thunderstorms.