HOUSTON — A lightning threat in the Houston area turned the end of Saturday’s World Cup match between the Netherlands and Sweden into an unexpected wait for nearly 69,000 fans.
Just moments after the final whistle signaled the Netherlands’ commanding 5-1 victory, stadium officials made an announcement directing spectators to stay put. Warnings were also displayed on the massive video boards at each end of the stadium.
The crowd of 68,777 — which was made up largely of Netherlands supporters — didn’t let the delay dampen the mood. Fans danced and cheered along to music playing inside the venue while they waited for officials to give the go-ahead to leave. The stadium, known as NRG Stadium, is the home of the NFL’s Houston Texans.
Weather forecasts for the area predicted rain would continue for roughly another hour after the match ended, with conditions expected to clear up around 2 p.m. local time.
