ByMike Ellis•

3 days ago

Updated: June 24, 2026, 7:47 am EDTPublished: June 24, 2026, 8:42 pm EDT

Every World Cup match has an opponent that isn't on the team sheet — one you can't tackle, can't outrun, and can't always predict: the weather. USMNT defender Tim Ream and the people who prepare the pitch reveal how wind warps a ball in flight, why installing real grass is a battle that starts weeks before kickoff and how a single lightning strike can stop everything and empty a stadium. At the highest level, beating the weather is its own game.