The highly anticipated UEFA Nations League semi-final clash between Germany and Portugal faced an unexpected delay due to severe weather conditions. The match, originally scheduled to kick off at 9:00 PM CET on June 4, 2025, was postponed by 10 minutes after a sudden hailstorm and heavy rain swept through the Bavarian capital, disrupting the teams’ pre-match preparations. Fans and players alike were caught off guard as the storm forced both squads to retreat to the locker rooms, halting their warm-up routines and leaving the packed stadium buzzing with anticipation.
The adverse weather, characterized by intense hail and rainfall, created chaotic scenes at the Allianz Arena, which had just days earlier hosted the UEFA Champions League final. According to reports from the scene, the downpour was so severe that players were unable to continue their warm-ups, prompting officials to push the start time to 9:10 PM CET to ensure player safety and allow the pitch to be assessed. Social media posts from fans and media outlets captured the moment, with images of hail pelting the field and players dashing for cover, underscoring the unusual nature of the delay. The decision was confirmed by UEFA officials, with sources like Goal.com noting that the brief postponement was necessary to address the weather-related disruption.
The match, a high-stakes encounter between two European football powerhouses, featured Germany’s Joshua Kimmich earning his 100th cap and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line at 40 years old. Despite the delay, the electric atmosphere in Munich remained undampened, with fans eagerly awaiting the clash to determine which team would advance to the Nations League final against either Spain or France. Both teams had arrived in top form, with Germany unbeaten in their last eight Nations League matches and Portugal showcasing their attacking prowess in a dramatic 5-3 aggregate comeback against Denmark in the quarter-finals. The brief interruption did little to quell the excitement, as the Allianz Arena, bathed in the glow of its iconic exterior, prepared to host a thrilling semi-final showdown.