Rain could fall on US FIFA World Cup game– here's how it could affect the match
After winning the 2015 FIFA World Cup, the U.S. women's team is a favorite to win again this year, but the weather conditions for their first game may be less than favorable.
On Tuesday, the United States will face Thailand in Reims, France, in its first match of the tournament. A passing shower or two may dampen or wet the field, but steadier rain is expected to hold off until later at night.
Soccer is played across the globe in a variety of weather conditions that can alter the game. Find out which conditions are the most impactful.
After France, the U.S. team is the next favorite to win the World Cup with a 17% chance, according to FiveThirtyEight as of Sunday morning. The weather may have an impact on this, however, as rain could easily factor into how the soccer (or football as the sport is known outside of the U.S.) ball moves across the field.
Light rain is beneficial to passing teams according to pinnacle.com, an online sports betting website. In fact, it's common for sprinklers to water the fields in international and professional soccer games before playing. With rain clinging to the blades of grass, the surface is slick enough for the ball to skim or even skip across the field at a faster pace.
While this can be optimal for moving quickly, it also has the ability to surprise players who aren't expecting the speed of the pass. A slick ball can also slip past a blocking foot more easily, according to a soccer coaching website.
United States players celebrate after the team beat Japan in the FIFA Women's World Cup soccer championship in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Sunday, July 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
A soaked field can be a nightmare for goalkeepers. Not only can the ball move quickly, skip unpredictably and potentially slip through their gloves, but it can limit their ability to refute an attempted goal with a drop-kick. This essentially erases their ability to get more power behind an effort to send the ball to the other side of the field.
The FIFA women's cup will be played on either natural grass or hybrid-grass systems, according to the Associated Press. This essentially means that there will not be as much drainage if the rain starts to fall. While a little rain over natural grass can also make the field slick, an excessive amount could lead to puddles, causing the ball to stick and even slowing down the players.
Naturally, when a soccer ball soaks up water, it becomes heavier and can affect the play. FIFA requires the soccer ball to weigh between 450 g (16 oz) and 410 g (14 oz). To be approved by the Collegiate Athletic Association-approved as well, the soccer ball can't exceed 16.75 oz even when waterlogged.
Dry weather, on the other hand, may cause natural grass fields to harden, causing the ball to bounce unpredictably high when it hits the ground, according to livestrong.com.
The 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup will use the Adidas Context 19 ball, which is thermally bonded instead of stitched together, which can make it more water-resistant.
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