Chelsea's match against Benfica in the Club World Cup was marred by a 1-hour-53-minute stoppage due to thunderstorms, igniting debates over the suitability of the U.S. as a host for FIFA events ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Manager Enzo Maresca criticized the long delay, expressing concern over player safety and the impact on the match. Despite the disruption, Chelsea managed to secure a 4-1 victory in the quarter-finals, but Maresca questioned the hosting arrangements after multiple suspensions in the tournament due to weather conditions.
"For me personally, it's not football. You cannot be inside for two hours. It is something completely new. I can understand that for security reasons, you are to suspend the game."
"For 85 minutes we were in control of the game. We didn't concede anything; we created chances enough to win the game. And then after the break the game changed completely."
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