Miami prepares for England-Norway World Cup quarterfinal amid weather concerns
England prepares for Norway challenge
England is set to face Norway in the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals in Miami. The match is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, 10 p.m. BST. The winner of this quarterfinal will advance to play either Switzerland or Argentina in the semifinals.
In team news for England, Noni Madueke will return to the starting lineup, replacing his teammate Bukayo Saka. Ezri Konsa is slated to start at right-back. This decision means that John Stones, who was impressive in a recent match against Mexico, will return to the center-back position. Stones’ return is considered significant, especially given his experience playing against Erling Haaland at Manchester City.
The inclusion of Madueke is expected to provide greater mobility on the wing for England. While Saka offers quality in the final third, Madueke is currently seen as sharper and provides an excellent outlet to exploit space behind Norway’s defense. Konsa, though not a specialist right-back, filled in effectively in a previous match, stopping crosses and winning headers. His role will involve containing Antonio Nusa, a dynamic one-on-one threat for Norway.
Positive injury updates for England include the fitness of Declan Rice and Marc Guehi, who had concerns after the win over Mexico. Rice has been a pivotal player, allowing Jude Bellingham freedom in games. While Guehi did not start England’s opening match, he and Konsa have become the preferred center-back pairing. Moving Konsa to right-back is not ideal for this partnership, but having both defenders available is crucial.
Norway’s tactical considerations
For Norway, there is speculation regarding their starting lineup, particularly concerning Alexander Sorloth. While Sorloth has been useful for long balls, his mobility as a winger when Norway has possession has been a concern. Against Brazil, his withdrawal and the introduction of Andreas Schjelderup from the bench reportedly changed the game, leading to a significant win where Schjelderup assisted both of Haaland’s goals.
Norway’s manager, Stale Solbakken, has previously made double substitutions involving wingers. For instance, against Ivory Coast, he replaced Nusa and Sorloth with Schjelderup and Oscar Bobb after 71 minutes, and at halftime against Brazil. Bobb and Schjelderup offer greater mobility in wide areas, which could be a factor in Solbakken’s decision for the quarterfinal match.
David Moller Wolfe has been in fine form for Norway in recent weeks. England, particularly Konsa and Madueke, will need a plan to manage Moller Wolfe’s underlapping runs, which create space for Nusa on the wing. Excitement for the match is high in Oslo, with fan zones experiencing long queues hours before kickoff.
Weather conditions in Miami
The weather forecast for the match in Miami indicates temperatures in the 90s and partly cloudy skies. A heat advisory is in effect until 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, July 11, with the heat index expected to reach 108 degrees. The high heat and humidity were factors in the introduction of mandatory three-minute hydration breaks at the midpoint of each half during the tournament.
Thunderstorms are a primary concern for potential weather delays. Play is suspended if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium and can only resume after 30 minutes without further lightning. Previous matches in the tournament have experienced delays due to weather. The Mexico vs. England round of 16 game in Mexico City on July 5 was delayed for one hour, with England eventually winning 3-2. Similarly, the Mexico vs. Ecuador match on June 30 and the France vs. Iraq group stage game on June 23 also saw weather-related suspensions.
Despite potential delays, FIFA officials have not discussed any changes to the kickoff time for the England-Norway match. The game is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET.
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Source: nytimes.com
