Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca unleashed a scathing critique of FIFA’s decision to host the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States after a near two-hour weather delay disrupted his team’s 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica in the Round of 16 on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The match, played at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, was halted in the 86th minute due to a lightning storm warning, stretching the game to a grueling four hours and 38 minutes from start to finish. Maresca labeled the interruption “a joke” and questioned the suitability of the U.S. as a host for the tournament, citing repeated weather-related disruptions.
The game had been a showcase of Chelsea’s dominance, with captain Reece James curling in a brilliant free-kick in the 64th minute to give the Blues a 1-0 lead. Chelsea controlled 60% of possession, registered six shots on target to Benfica’s one, and earned eight corner kicks while Benfica failed to win a single one. However, with just four minutes remaining in regulation time, a storm warning forced players off the field and fans to vacate the stands, marking the sixth weather-related suspension in the tournament’s first 50 matches. Maresca, visibly frustrated, argued that such frequent interruptions undermine the integrity of top-level football. “It’s not football,” he told reporters after the match. “I understand for safety you have to suspend the game, but if you’re stopping seven or eight matches, maybe this isn’t the right place for the competition.”
The delay appeared to disrupt Chelsea’s momentum. When play resumed after 113 minutes, Benfica capitalized with a controversial stoppage-time penalty converted by Ángel Di María, leveling the score at 1-1 after a VAR-reviewed handball call on Chelsea substitute Malo Gusto. Maresca fiercely contested the decision, claiming the free-kick leading to the penalty was unwarranted. The match proceeded to extra time, where Benfica’s hopes were dashed when Gianluca Prestianni received a second yellow card, reducing the Portuguese side to 10 men. Chelsea seized the opportunity, with substitutes Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring in the 108th, 112th, and 116th minutes, respectively, to secure a commanding 4-1 victory.
Despite the win, Maresca’s frustration with the delay overshadowed the triumph. He highlighted the challenge it posed to his players’ focus, noting that both teams were forced to warm up in the dressing room, with Chelsea players riding exercise bikes to stay ready. “It’s completely amazing, something new that I struggle to understand,” Maresca said, emphasizing the disruption’s impact on the game’s flow. Chelsea captain Reece James echoed his manager’s sentiments, stating that the long wait was “quite disruptive” for the players.
The victory sets up a quarter-final clash with Brazilian side Palmeiras on Friday, but it comes at a cost. Midfielder Moises Caicedo, who was named the match’s man of the match for his dominant performance, will miss the next game due to a yellow card suspension. Maresca’s post-match comments also raised broader concerns about the tournament’s organization, as other matches, including Benfica’s earlier 6-0 win over Auckland City, faced similar weather delays. With the 2026 World Cup also scheduled to be hosted in the U.S., Maresca’s remarks add fuel to ongoing discussions about the country’s readiness for major international tournaments.