Spain’s final World Cup training session cancelled as storms disrupt New Jersey preparations
FIFA confirms no alternative slots available for European champions ahead of Sunday’s final against Argentina
Spain’s final training session ahead of the 2026 World Cup final was cancelled on Saturday after heavy thunderstorms swept through New Jersey. The Spanish national team, managed by Luis de la Fuente, had been scheduled to conduct their preparations at the Melanie Lane training ground, but the session was suspended and subsequently called off in accordance with US storm safety protocols.
The decision followed strict safety mandates which require the suspension of outdoor sporting events if lightning or electrical activity is detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue. Events can only resume once there have been no further lightning strikes for at least 30 minutes. The cancellation coincided with a flood advisory issued by New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani, who advised residents not to risk their safety in the dangerous conditions.
In a statement, the Spanish federation (RFEF) confirmed that the outdoor session at Melanie Lane had been suspended. The federation noted that players were instead taking part in a warm-up session indoors while the weather conditions persisted. FIFA, the global governing body for football, confirmed that there would be no alternative time slots for Spain to train on Saturday, leaving the European champions with limited preparation time before the match.
Opponents Argentina, located approximately five miles away in Morristown, were able to resume their training after a 45-minute delay. The two sides are set to meet in the final at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday. Spain secured their place in the championship match by defeating France 2-0 on Tuesday, while Argentina staged a late comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday.
The tournament is now focused on the final showdown, with Argentina looking to become only the third nation to retain the World Cup. Meanwhile, earlier in the week, officials in New York and New Jersey had issued an air quality health alert due to haze caused by wildfires in Canada, adding to the environmental challenges facing the tournament in the region.
