If you were looking for a quiet, low-key warm-up match to get Saudi Arabia ticking over before the World Cup, a two-hour lightning delay in Texas was probably not part of the plan. The friendly against Puerto Rico, which was supposed to be a straightforward run-out, turned into a bit of an endurance test before a ball had even been kicked properly, with extreme weather forcing players off the pitch and everyone into a holding pattern while the storm did its thing.
These pre-tournament friendlies are always a bit of an odd occasion. They matter just enough that nobody wants to get injured, but not so much that you'd expect a manager to be losing sleep over the result. Saudi Arabia will be at the World Cup on home soil in 2026, so there is a certain amount of pressure on them to put in a decent showing for their own fans, and getting their preparation right is genuinely important. A two-hour delay messes with rhythm, focus, and the whole flow of what you are trying to build going into a tournament.
The weather in that part of the United States in the summer can be absolutely brutal, and anyone who has spent time in Texas knows that the storms roll in fast and hit hard. It is not really anyone's fault, but it does raise a fair question about scheduling and venue choices for warm-up games. If you are trying to replicate tournament conditions, getting stuck under a roof waiting for lightning to pass is not ideal preparation for anyone.
Saudi Arabia will be hoping this is the most turbulent thing about their World Cup build-up, because once the tournament itself gets going, the pressure will ramp up significantly. Playing at home in front of your own nation is a massive honour but also a huge weight to carry, and every bit of preparation counts. Hopefully the players made good use of the two hours and at least had a decent team quiz or something to pass the time.
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