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England will face Norway in Miami this evening, but the match has come under scrutiny after local authorities issued an ‘extreme heat’ warning for the region.

The Three Lions are set to take on Norway tonight with a coveted place in the World Cup semi-finals at stake.

England have battled their way to the quarter-final stage, overcoming Croatia, Panama, DR Congo, and co-hosts Mexico along the way.

Norway, on the other hand, progressed to the last eight after defeating Brazil and have captured global attention, thanks largely to Erling Haaland’s consistent goal-scoring form and their fans’ now-famous Viking row celebration.

After England’s Round of 32 encounter with Mexico was delayed due to electrical storms around the Estadio Azteca, similar concerns have been raised about whether tonight’s game might also face disruption.

Authorities have warned that South Florida could experience ‘feels like’ temperatures reaching 44 degrees Celsius by the 5 pm local time kick-off. The extreme heat warning has prompted questions about player safety and scheduling.

Although meteorologists expect the actual temperature in Miami to be around 33 degrees Celsius at kick-off, the presence of a Saharan dust plume drifting across the Atlantic is expected to worsen the playing conditions significantly.

The dust plume has reportedly formed a thermal blanket over the area, creating stifling conditions that are far from ideal for a match of such magnitude.

Florida’s summer weather is notoriously unpredictable, so while thunderstorms cannot be completely ruled out, current forecasts suggest they are unlikely to impact play.

According to the global players’ union FIFPro, matches should be delayed or postponed if the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)—a measure that accounts for ambient temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation—exceeds 28°C (82.4°F), or if the standard temperature surpasses 36°C (96.8°F).

In theory, this fixture could be at risk of postponement, but given the importance of the quarter-final matchup, FIFA is expected to do everything possible to ensure the match proceeds safely for both players and spectators.

Several matches this tournament have already been played in intense heat. France’s Round of 16 meeting with Paraguay was played in 38-degree conditions, while Croatia’s defeat to Portugal took place at 35 degrees Celsius.

Unlike some venues used in this World Cup, Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium lacks a retractable roof or air-conditioning system, meaning there will be no relief from the sweltering outdoor temperatures during the match.