Why was the Auckland City vs. Boca Juniors second half delayed at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025?

Boca Juniors came into their final group stage match at GEODIS Park knowing they needed a six-goal win over Auckland City to stay alive in the tournament. With the score locked at 1–1 in the second half, their dream of reaching the Round of 16 was slipping away when the game was suddenly suspended in the 55th minute.

The clash between Boca Juniors and Auckland City, taking place at GEODIS Park in Nashville, Tennessee, was suspended in the 55th minute of the second half with the score tied at 1–1. It’s the 5th game suspended for a storm.

The third round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage delivered another twist — not from the gameplay itself, but from an unexpected interruption that left players and fans in suspense.

The match was crucial for Boca, who entered the game knowing they needed to win by at least six goals to have a shot at advancing to the Round of 16. Any result short of that would likely see them eliminated, regardless of the outcome in the simultaneous Benfica vs. Bayern Munich match being held at Bank of America Stadium.

The goals came early, with Lautaro Di Lollo opening the scoring for Boca before Christian Gray equalized for the New Zealand side.

Tension was already high as Boca pushed for the massive goal margin required to continue in the competition. The pause in play only increased the pressure, casting uncertainty over whether the match would resume and how it might impact the standings.

For Miguel Ángel Russo’s squad, the stoppage comes as a major setback in an already uphill battle. Boca not only needs to restart and dominate the remainder of the match, but also hope for a favorable outcome from the Bayern–Benfica result. For now, all eyes remain on the pitch and the decision from FIFA on when or if play will resume.

Lightning protocol halts play amid Boca fans’ frustration

Shortly after the second half began, the stadium’s voice system announced that the FIFA lightning storm protocol had been activated due to severe weather conditions in the area. Fans from both teams were asked to move to the upper sections of GEODIS Park for safety, as thunderstorm activity approached Nashville.

The announcement was met with loud whistles and jeers from Boca Juniors supporters, who had been filling the stadium with their traditional chants of encouragement. The abrupt suspension not only broke the rhythm of Boca’s attacking push but also added to the fans’ growing anxiety over the delayed proceedings.

At the time of the interruption, the atmosphere had been electric — both in energy and in literal weather. While safety was the clear priority, the reaction in the stands reflected the desperation and passion of the Argentine crowd, who knew just how slim their team’s chances of advancing had become.