US lightning protocols, which FIFA must follow at most venues, trigger immediate suspensions if strikes occur within an eight-mile radius, followed by a 30-minute reset clock that can extend delays for hours during active thunderstorms. This creates elevated risk for the 104-match tournament opening June 11 across open-air US stadiums in thunderstorm-prone regions like the Midwest, South, and Northeast, while five domed or retractable-roof venues offer partial protection. Recent climate analyses highlight heightened wet-bulb globe temperatures and summer storm frequency compared with 1994, alongside FIFA-mandated three-minute hydration breaks in each half to address heat. Case-by-case decisions on postponements or resumptions add uncertainty, with historical precedents from prior events showing multiple stoppages possible when storms align with kickoff windows.