Stormy weather brought the Spanish World Cup finalists' training session to a grinding halt on Saturday - and it couldn't have come at a worse time. The squad was set to fine-tune their tactics ahead of Sunday's showpiece against Argentina, but the US thunderstorms had other plans. Luis de la Fuente's men were forced to call off their session, initially suspended due to lightning activity in the area, with safety protocols dictating that any outdoor sporting event must be halted until it was safe to resume.
The Spanish Football Federation confirmed the cancellation, citing electrical activity as the reason for suspending the team's training on the pitches. US protocol is clear: no training can take place if lightning or electrical activity is detected within an eight-mile radius of the venue - and only when there have been 30 minutes with no further strikes can events resume. The Spanish players were left to conduct a warm-up session indoors, feeling like they'd lost precious prep time.
Argentina, meanwhile, were able to complete their training session after a 45-minute delay, albeit just five miles away in Morristown. This disparity could be the psychological edge Argentina need heading into the final - and it's hard not to think that Spain will feel like they've been hampered by the weather.
The region has been plagued by poor weather all week, with air quality health alerts issued due to haze caused by Canadian wildfires. And on Saturday, New York City Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani advised residents to stay safe as the city faced a flood advisory - not ideal for the World Cup finalists.
Spain reached the final in style, beating France 2-0 on Tuesday, showcasing their European champions' form. Argentina staged an incredible late comeback to beat England 2-1 on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the football world. Now, it's all about who can raise their game when it matters most - and we're just one day away from finding out.