It was contrasting fortunes for the 206 FIFA World Cup finalists Spain and Argentina as weather disrupted training for both Spain and Argentina in New York on the eve of the biggest match in world football.
Spain called off their outdoor training session due to threat of thunderstorm following a rainy day in New York.
Euro 2024 winners La Furia Roja’s training session that was supposed to take place at the Melanie Lane training ground in New Jersey was called off on a day the city was drenched in rain with flood alert initiated and thunderstorms were expected.
This led to implementation of the US protocol to cancel any outdoor sporting event due to lightning or electrical activity detected within an eight-mile radius of the weather event.
According to a statement by the Spanish football federation, the team was able to undertake warm-up sessions indoors after suspending training outdoors.
“The Spanish national team’s training session on the pitches at the Melanie Lane Training Ground in New Jersey has been suspended in accordance with the US storm safety protocol.
“The players are currently taking part in a warm-up session indoors.”
However, defending champions Argentina were able to train after a 45-minute delay at their base in Morristown.
The South Americans train five miles away from Spain, and were only briefly affected by the weather before Lionel Messi and co. fine-tuned their fitness ahead of the final.
Spain are gunning for a second World Cup title, while Argentina are looking to successfully defend the World Cup title and become the only team after Brazil in 1962 to achieve the feat.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will take place at the New York/New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.
