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Severe weather sweeping across New York and New Jersey compelled Spain to call off its final training session on the day before the World Cup final.
La Roja were scheduled to begin their last preparations ahead of facing Argentina at 11 a.m. ET in Whippany, New Jersey, on Saturday, but heavy rain, thunder, and lightning all conspired to derail those plans. The squad arrived at the former training ground of Red Bull New York, only to find themselves confined to the dressing room while waiting out the storm.
FIFA regulations require training to be suspended whenever lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius, according to The Athletic, and sessions cannot resume until an official "all clear" is issued. Weather assessments take place every 30 minutes, mirroring the protocol used for matches at the 2026 World Cup.
Spain lingered at the facility for roughly 40 minutes before ultimately scrapping the session, sending players home for the remainder of the day rather than continuing to wait for conditions to improve.
The Silver Lining of Spain's Canceled Training
Just one day earlier, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente had emphasized to reporters how crucial the final training session would be for his team in the lead-up to the World Cup final.
"Tomorrow we have the last training session," he said. "It's one of the most critical moments, thinking that there can't be any delays because you won't make the game if there were some sort of adverse circumstance ... hopefully not," he added, in reference to potential injuries. "But they're all good."
One upside of missing Saturday's session is that De la Fuente no longer needs to fret over any last-minute injury setbacks within his squad. It also affords Lamine Yamal, who sat out Thursday's session, additional recovery time following a heavy challenge he absorbed in the semifinal clash against France.
Nevertheless, skipping training on the eve of the biggest match on the planet is far from ideal. De la Fuente's side will need to rely on all the preparation that carried them to MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Argentina Takes a Different Approach
Argentina's training base is also located in Whippany, New Jersey, just five miles from Spain's facility. The reigning world champions were set to kick off their session at 11:30 a.m. ET, but likewise experienced delays due to the thunderstorms.
Rather than departing and canceling the session as La Roja did, Messi and his teammates waited out the storm and eventually stepped onto the pitch after 12 p.m. ET.
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While the weather disrupted both squads, the rainfall was a welcome relief across New York and New Jersey following several days of poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires. There had been concerns that the World Cup final could be relocated, but Saturday's intense weather is expected to improve conditions and bring the Air Quality Index down to safe levels.
However, the heavy downpours and flash flood warnings across the region do raise questions about the pitch conditions at MetLife Stadium, where Spain will take on Argentina at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday.