ENGLAND fans may have to stay up all night to watch the Three Lions at the World Cup - with Fifa prepared to play games later to avoid searing heat and thunderstorms.
A number of matches at the Club World Cup in the USA this summer were stopped because of thunder and lightning, while Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca and his players were among those complaining it was “impossible” to play in 90 degree-plus temperatures and sauna-like humidity.
Global players’ chiefs have urged Fifa to take the health and safety of players into consideration by not scheduling games in the afternoon heat, when the thunderstorms are more likely.
And while there are indoor venues in Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles and Vancouver where afternoon games can be staged, Fifa are ready to redraft the timetable.
That would mean games played later in the day US time - and potentially at midnight or later in Europe, despite the wishes of broadcasters and fans.
Currently the July 19 final in New Jersey is also due to be a 3pm game - when the heat would be at its most intense.
FIFA vice-president, Canada’s Victor Montagliani, conceded: “It’s always an issue in our region - summers are hot in Canada as well as the US.
“But it’s important we learn from those things.
“We’re in conversations daily with the European broadcasters in terms of what stadiums you can play in at 3pm, the likes of Atlanta for instance.
“Obviously what we’re trying to do, once the schedule does come out after the draw in December, is our best to ensure that all that’s taken into consideration.
“Now, will there be every game that’ll be absolutely perfect from a kick-off time from a TV perspective?
“I don’t know, because there’s a lot of games, but that’s all taken into consideration.”
Speaking at Leaders Week London at the Allianz Stadium, Concacaf boss Montagliani, one of the most powerful men in FIFA and tipped by many to succeed Gianni Infantino as the next world chief, confirmed he will fight any proposals to expand the 2030 World Cup to 64 teams - but suggested he would back an extension of the Club World Cup to 48 sides in 2029.
Montagliani added: “I don’t see the argument for 64 teams. It’s not just us, but Uefa and Asia who are opposed to that.
“You’d have a lot more games in the group stage, matches having to kick off at the same time, at least a week longer for the tournament.
“But the Club World Cup was a massive success. We need to work out what’s feasible, changes we need to make about the number of teams and the caps on each country we had for this year.
“Clubs have to deserve to be there, not just because they have a great history, but we need to discuss this with the stakeholders including the European Clubs Association.”
Montagliani made light of US President Donald Trump’s threat to move games from US cities he does not like, pointing out: “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions.”
But he confirmed that Israel’s future in world football would be discussed at Thursday's meeting of the FIFA Council in Zurich - although punting the final call to Uefa.
He added: “Israel is a member of Uefa, it’s a decision for Uefa, it’s in their bailiwick.
“We get asked to deal with a lot of things by a lot of organisations, from politicians, interested parties.
“But at the end of the day, we have to get down to the brass tacks. We’re a member organisation and have a duty to our members, whether that’s the Israeli Football Association or the FA.”