Fans at the Kansas City Stadium have been told to evacuate their seats and ‘seek shelter’ amid tornado warnings that have threatened to derail tonight’s game.
Early on Thursday, weather experts warned ‘isolated tornadoes’ in Kansas City could disrupt the Tunisia vs Netherlands World Cup game, which starts at 6pm local time.
They cautioned that severe storms on the way might cause ‘damaging winds, hail, and downpours and even isolated tornadoes to parts of the plains’.
Just hours later, those predictions came true as heavy storms quickly descended upon Kansas City, with videos showing the brutal conditions which hit the area.
Shortly after the storms hit, a warning from Kansas City Stadium – which is typically called ‘Arrowhead Stadium’ – was put out, urging fans to seek shelter.
‘Fans at Kansas City Stadium are being instructed to move indoors and seek shelter in concourses or other covered areas, following guidance from stadium staff,’ it read.
Tornado warnings have threatened to wreak havoc on the World Cup game between Tunisia vs Netherlands in Kansas City on Thursday evening
Shortly before kick-off, fans were urged to evacuate the open seating and head indoors
In a video shared by KWCH 12 News correspondent Tejay Cleland, heavy rain poured down on the stadium, where no fans remained after evacuating inside.
No official updates from FIFA have been issued regarding the game, as of yet.
Earlier in the day, AccuWeather Meteorologist Adam Douty said: ‘Delays could be lengthy as rain and storms could be around the area for several hours.’
Bad weather has caused issues already at the World Cup, with France’s group game against Iraq in Philadelphia delayed for over two hours due to storms and heavy rain.
Ahead of the tournament, intense heat was the biggest issue and prompted FIFA to introduce their unpopular ‘hydration breaks’ and the midpoint of both halves.
And AccuWeather believe that will be more of a factor during the knockout rounds of the tournament, which begin Sunday when Canada plays South Africa in Los Angeles.
Virgil van Dijk and Holland play Tunisia at Arrowhead Stadium in their final group game
The France vs Iraq game in Philadelphia was delayed for over two hours due to bad weather
They say their meteorologists are ‘closely monitoring a pattern of extreme heat called a “Heat Dome” setting up across the central and eastern United States.’
It could mean that along the east coast and as far as Kansas City, temperatures could rise into the mid-90s for games.
The New York/New Jersey stadium hosts a last-32 game on Tuesday, June 30 and Germany play in Boston on Monday, June 29.
Kansas City hosts a last-32 game on Friday, July 3.
