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

The second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage delivered yet another twist—this time, not from the action on the pitch, but from an unexpected interruption that left fans and players momentarily in limbo.

The second round of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup group stage delivered yet another twist—this time, not from the action on the pitch, but from an unexpected interruption that left fans and players momentarily in limbo. The clash between Benfica and Auckland City, held at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, had already promised drama due to the teams’ contrasting fortunes, but what unfolded added an element of suspense beyond the tactical and technical battles.

With both sides chasing their first victory in Group C, anticipation was high. But just as the second half was set to begin, stadium officials and FIFA representatives took the unprecedented step of halting proceedings. What could cause such a delay in one of the world’s most tightly scheduled soccer tournaments?

Benfica in control before the break

Before the interruption, the match had been progressing in Benfica’s favor. The Portuguese giants—featuring names like Angel Di Maria, Nicolas Otamendi, and Renato Sanches—had taken control of the contest despite Auckland City’s surprisingly resilient first-half defense.

In stoppage time of the opening 45 minutes, Di Maria coolly slotted home a penalty to give Benfica a 1-0 lead, rewarding their dominance and giving the fans a much-anticipated goal to cheer. It was a crucial moment for a team that had drawn 2-2 with Boca Juniors in their opening match and needed a win to stay on track for the knockout stages.

On the other side of the pitch, Auckland City, still reeling from a 10-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in their tournament opener, put up a much stronger resistance this time around. Goalkeeper Nathan Garrow, just 20 years old, stood out with several key saves to keep his team in the match. Garrow was thrust into the starting role after the Bayern demolition and had already shown the composure and resilience his side desperately needed.

But just when fans were gearing up for an intense second half, everything came to a sudden stop.

Sudden halt in Orlando

Shortly after the whistle for half-time, a message appeared on the stadium’s digital screens: the second half would be delayed. “Fans have been asked to vacate their seats and take cover as we wait out this weather delay ahead of the start of the second half,” read a notice from stadium staff.

As confusion spread across the venue, it became clear this was not a routine issue. The match had been suspended due to severe weather in the area, marking the fourth such incident to affect games in this edition of the tournament.

According to reports, thunderstorms and heavy rain rolled into Orlando, creating unsafe conditions for players, officials, and fans. Lightning detection systems in place for the tournament automatically triggered a mandatory suspension of play, forcing organizers to delay the resumption of the match indefinitely.