June 19, (THEWILL) – RB Salzburg’s Club World Cup Group H encounter against Pachuca was halted in the second half on Wednesday evening, after severe weather conditions struck Cincinnati’s TQL Stadium. The Austrian side held a 1-0 advantage through Oscar Gloukh’s first-half strike when officials suspended play after 54 minutes due to lightning and thunder in the vicinity.
The match suspension followed standard safety protocols implemented across American sporting venues, which require outdoor events to cease for a minimum of 30 minutes once electrical storm activity is detected. Stadium officials monitored conditions closely before making the decision to protect players and spectators from potential danger.
Group H had already witnessed drama earlier in the day when Real Madrid could only manage a 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal. The result left the Spanish giants with work to do in their remaining group fixtures, whilst Al-Hilal earned a valuable point against one of the tournament favourites.
Weather disruptions have become a recurring theme during the 2025 Club World Cup, with Tuesday’s match between South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns and South Korean side Ulsan HD delayed by over an hour in Orlando. Storm warnings forced officials to postpone kick-off whilst conditions remained unsafe for play.
The tournament organisers will now determine when the Salzburg-Pachuca fixture can be completed, with both teams needing clarity on their Group H standing. The Austrian club’s narrow lead puts them in a strong position, but Pachuca will hope the extended break allows them to regroup and mount a comeback when play resumes.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
