As England prepare to take on Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the World Cup semi-final, fans are keeping one eye on the sky.
Memories of the storm delays that impacted England’s dramatic Round of 16 tie against Mexico at the Estadio Azteca are still fresh. During that fixture, severe weather and lightning triggered a shelter-in-place order, forcing a one-hour postponement to kick-off.
Fortunately, weather disruptions will not halt the action in Georgia. If you are wondering whether the Atlanta Stadium – otherwise known as Mercedes-Benz Stadium – is indoors and air-conditioned, the answer is a resounding yes.
Atlanta Stadium is a climate-controlled arena
The Atlanta Stadium features a retractable roof that opens and closes like a camera lens. Oooooh.
To combat the sweltering Southern American summer, the dome will be kept shut for the semi-final, even though weather forecasters don’t expect outside temperatures to exceed 30°C.
In addition, an air-conditioning system pumps climate-controlled air throughout the stadium, maintaining a more comfortable internal temperature of 72°F (22°C).
When the World Cup is not in town, the facility is home to the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and MLS franchise Atlanta United.
The stadium’s climate control feature is a relief given the local weather forecast for Atlanta.
Meteorologists are predicting a humid high of 85°F (29°C) for the 3pm EST (8pm BST) kick-off, with scattered thunderstorms and rain showers expected to roll across the city.
Heavy downpours may soak fan zones outside, but proceedings on the pitch will unaffected.
England have already played twice in climate-controlled stadiums this tournament.
The Three Lions kickstarted their World Cup campaign at the Dallas Stadium with a 4-2 win over Croatia under a closed dome.
They have also appeared here in Atlanta, coming from behind to beat DR Congo 2-1 in the Round of 32.