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Manchester City's pre-season friendly against Barcelona in Orlando, Florida, has been delayed due to a severe thunderstorm in the area.

Pep Guardiola was set to take on his former side with a kick-off time at midnight, but has now seen the match delayed due to lighting and rain battering the ground.

Both teams inside the Camping World Stadium had already entered the venue when it was announced the match would be delayed as dangerous weather approached.

Confirming the news, City posted on X: 'Tonight's match has been delayed due to an incoming storm in Orlando. The length of the delay will be confirmed in due course.'

The reigning Premier League champions have since confirmed a proposed start time has been issued, adding: ' Tonight's game against Barcelona in Orlando will now kick off at 20:20 local time (1.20am BST) providing there are no further lightning storms in the area.'

City continued to give reassurances to supporters that play would get underway by stating 'warm ups will get underway soon' in an X post at 00:34am BST. 

Meanwhile, Thousands of Barcelona and City fans inside the stadium who had arrived early to watch all the pre-match build-up were also told to retreat to shelter as rain started to batter the area. 

A warning on the screens inside the ground advised supporters about the approaching weather, stating: 'Due to inclement weather, the event has been temporarily delayed.

'Please seek shelter under covered concourse areas until further notice.'

Fans including children retreated under protective shelter inside the 60,000-seater stadium while awaiting news on when the match could finally get underway.

Mail Sport understands that the earliest the game could likely get underway is at 1am due to restrictions imposed on sporting fixtures that are affected by a storm in the United States.

Regulations mean there is a 30-minute delay to a match from whenever a strike of lightning hits within an eight-mile radius of the stadium. 

The last one of those was around midnight, meaning a 1am start is likely to be the best case scenario provided there is no further lightning nearby.

Live weather forecasts show the thunderstorm crossing Tampa and over Orlando, with the worst of the rain yet to come if the weather continues on its current trajectory.

Heavy rain is predicted to continue until 11pm local time, meaning City and Barcelona could be set for a four-hour wait to get the match underway, but those fears have since been reduced.

Mail Sport's Jack Gaughan is at the venue and providing an update, posted on X: 'Orlando, 2024. Not going to start anytime soon. Need a clear 30 minutes without a lightning strike before the players can warm up.' 

City had already named their starting team for the clash with Jack Grealish and Kalvin Phillips amongst those picked by Guardiola.

City will play their final pre-season friendly against Chelsea in Columbus, Ohio on Saturday before returning to England for the Community Shield v Man United on Saturday August 3.