Portugal's Training Halted by Storm Warning

Portugal's training session on Thursday lasted a mere half-hour. With all players fit, Roberto Martínez led the 27-man squad onto the pitch for their penultimate practice ahead of the decisive World Cup 2026 group stage clash against Colombia. However, the session was abruptly cut short.

The training was interrupted due to a storm warning (thunderstorm), forcing players to retreat to an indoor gym, while journalists were instructed to return to their vehicles. This marks the second time the national team has faced such an interruption in Miami, with the first occurring before their match against Congo. Other national teams, including England and Spain, have also experienced similar situations.

These strict regulations are in place due to Florida's unfortunate distinction as the U.S. state with the highest number of lightning-related fatalities, double that of the second-highest state. Just last week, a child was tragically killed by a lightning strike, underscoring the severity of these rules – prompting players to immediately halt their training.

If a thunderstorm is detected within 13 kilometers and heading towards the area, an alert is immediately issued. This scenario could potentially unfold during Sunday morning's match, as the stadium is open-air. There's a risk of similar interruptions during the game, in which case the stadium would need to be fully evacuated.