Overview

• The round-of-16 match in Charlotte was suspended for one hour and fifty-three minutes under U.S. lightning-safety protocols, marking the tournament’s sixth weather stoppage.
• Benfica equalized with a stoppage-time penalty from Ángel Di María before Chelsea won 4-1 in extra time, with Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring.
• The game spanned four hours and 38 minutes from kick-off to final whistle, securing Chelsea a quarter-final tie against Palmeiras in Philadelphia.
• Enzo Maresca called the prolonged suspension “a joke,” arguing that frequent stoppages disrupt match rhythm and undermine top-level football.
• The sixth weather interruption at the expanded 32-team tournament has intensified questions about player welfare, fan experience and summer scheduling ahead of the 2026 World Cup.