This article is from the archive of our partner .
Brazil may go the way of Atlantis by the end of the World Cup if the pictures coming out of Recife are any indication. Well, that might be a bit of an overstatement, but Recife, the city hosting USA-Germany Thursday afternoon, is currently suffering from dangerous flooding that's making travel to the stadium nearly impossible.
Twenty five percent of the city's monthly average rainfall came down in the last 24 hours. It's at least four inches of rain, according to amateur meteorologists. In other words, the city is flooded to the gills.
The two teams are set to square off for the fate of Group G. If the U.S. Men's National Team can tie or win, they'll advance to the round of sixteen, provided Ghana and Portugal don't mess anything up. But before you can consider the possible outcomes of the match, which is set to begin at 12 p.m. Thursday, the teams have to worry about getting to Arena Pernambuco, about 30 kilometers outside of Recife, Brazil.
Reporters and fans in Recife have shared pictures of their adventures trying to get to the stadium:
This flooding is crazy pic.twitter.com/5zWcvIDlH7
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 26, 2014
This has disaster written all over it. Here some #usmnt fans look for high ground. No idea how theyll get to stadium pic.twitter.com/Cbc8YEVss8
— Rick Maese (@RickMaese) June 26, 2014
Torrential rain causes flooding and travel chaos in Recife ahead of #USA v #GER #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/7EyrcJFZp8
— David McDonnell (@DiscoMirror) June 26, 2014
Good thing we brought life jackets... pic.twitter.com/0JM6dqxQOS
— Jeremy Schaap (@JeremySchaap) June 26, 2014
US team will arrive 2 by 2 in an ark media is told pic.twitter.com/wJZo5UO1t0
— Kevin Baxter (@kbaxter11) June 26, 2014
Roads in Recife flooded. Imagine fans will have nightmare getting to stadium 30km out of town for #GERUSA pic.twitter.com/qxI1nEANt7
— tariq panja (@tariqpanja) June 26, 2014
Water water everywhere. #usmnt pic.twitter.com/aRBLgkhy8x
— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) June 26, 2014
Fortunately, the U.S. team seems to be taking the flooding in stride. A fearless leader is helping to guide them first to the stadium, and onwards to victory:
Flooding in Recife. Teddy Goalsevelt guiding our car through the tough waters. Onwards to the stadium! #LetsDoThis pic.twitter.com/lUEi5Rcxlf
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) June 26, 2014
It appears the conditions inside the stadium are fine should remain so once USA and Germany take the field Thursday afternoon. FIFA officials predict that the weather won't delay the match at all:
At Recife stadium now. No flooding. Can see firsthand the difference between "FIFA-standard" and standard for ordinary Brazilians. Shameful.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 26, 2014
Word from US Soccer on the field conditions as heavy rains fall in Recife: "soft, but holding up pretty well so far."
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) June 26, 2014
This article is from the archive of our partner The Wire.
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.