Oranje ready to take on Tunisia as storm clouds gather in Kansas

The Netherlands take on Tunisia in their final World Cup group match in the early hours of Friday morning, but weather forecasters say the match could be disrupted by storms.

Thunder, lightning, heavy rain and strong winds are forecast to hit Kansas in the afternoon and this, forecasters say, could mean the start of the match being delayed or the game itself being paused for a time.

The game is due to start at 1am Dutch time, or 6pm local time.

Buienradar meteorologist Magdel Erasmus told broadcaster RTL that Fifa has a strict protocol to deal with storms and that games can only be played after there has been no lightning within a radius of 13 kilometres from a stadium for 30 minutes.

And if there is a lightning strike, the time starts over again.

Japan and Sweden, the other two teams in Group F, also meet at 1 pm Dutch time.

The winner of Group F will meet number two in Group C, which is currently Morocco. Brazil lead that group on goal difference and will meet Group F’s number 2.

Oranje and Japan are both on four points and are equal on goal difference, leaving the battle for the top spot wide open. Sweden has three points and needs to beat Japan to take second place, and Tunisia has already been eliminated from the competition.