The FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Paraguay and France may face an unexpected opponent: the weather.

The National Weather Service has issued an alert for extreme conditions in Philadelphia, where intense heat and possible thunderstorms could impact the match.

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Heat and storm alert

Forecasts call for temperatures of around 40°C (104°F) from kickoff through the end of the match.

In addition to the extreme heat, there is also a significant chance of thunderstorms, which could delay the start of the game if weather conditions are deemed unsafe.

For now, kickoff remains scheduled for 5:00 p.m. ET.

If the match is played as planned, hydration breaks are expected to help players cope with the extreme temperatures.

Who will the winner face?

Beyond the weather concerns, both France and Paraguay are battling for a place in the World Cup quarterfinals.

The winner of this matchup will take on the winner of Canada vs Morocco in the next round.

At this stage, there has been no official announcement regarding a postponement, suspension or kickoff time change, although weather conditions will continue to be closely monitored ahead of the match.

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