With the kick-off of the Round of 16, the 2026 World Cup crosses another threshold today. NRG Stadium in Houston will host the match between Morocco and Canada, while Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia will host the clash between France and Paraguay. Between weather and predictions, the football gods have decided that the first two qualifying matches for the quarterfinals take place on the day celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States, one of the three host countries of the World Cup, which is not immune to the climate change phenomenon. The climate skepticism of the White House resident "really Trumps" things. According to National Weather Service forecasts, maximum temperatures could reach 96 to 97°F (Fahrenheit) today, the unit of measurement used in Uncle Sam's country. That's approximately 35°C on the Celsius scale, the most familiar, particularly to the French, who risk less heat in Philadelphia despite the heat wave. They will sweat their jerseys, especially in case of storms, although the opponent is not exactly a powerhouse. According to predictions, the Blues' defeat to the Albirroja has a probability of 5%. But it is not ruled out that the weather could somewhat upset the predictions. The same applies to the match between Canada and Morocco, which will take place under "partly cloudy skies with light rain," according to NWS forecasts. On the field, a cloud of hope will hover over the respective supporters of the Canucks and the Lions of the Atlas, since the victory of one or the defeat of the other team has a probability of around 45 to 55%. With a shower of joy or regrets at the final whistle. Otherwise, following a possible penalty shootout, during which the weather could play a role, with wind speeds that could affect the official 2026 World Cup ball, even though it was designed to have a more precise trajectory, better touch, and minimal water absorption.