While two of England's group-stage matches were played in the hotter Texas and Georgia climates, they felt the benefit of air-conditioned stadiums, where the temperature is set to a comfortable 21C.

The warmest the Three Lions have played in was 25C for the final group game against Panama, but that featured overcast skies.

July is Mexico City's wettest month of the year, so when England headed to altitude last Sunday they would have felt at home - 18C and rain.

The hot and humid weather in Miami will be a very different challenge.

Norway's tournament opener against Iraq, meanwhile, was played under clear skies and in a temperature of 25C.

There was rain and cloud during their games against Senegal and France, though they rested most of their first-choice players against Les Bleus.

After being indoors against Ivory Coast, Norway experienced oppressive conditions in the victory over Brazil. The temperature in New Jersey hit 31C in the shade, but on the pitch the heat and humidity would have made it feel far hotter.

Loving it William! Sounds like perfect footie weather. A message straight out of the public service broadcasting handbook this one. We ask the questions, you give us the answers...

Put simply, conditions in Miami will be hot and humid.

The NWS is warning of a "hazardous heat threat", with the chance of heat-related illnesses likely to increase.

While air temperatures are likely to sit about 33C (91F), once you add in the humidity, it will feel like about 41C (106F).

The NWS put a heat advisory in place for the area on Friday, and experts say it is likely one will be issued covering the weekend too.

There is a risk of thunderstorms, especially near the start of the match, and a possibility of showers - but otherwise sunny spells are expected.

Global sporting bodies such as Fifa use an index called Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which takes into account temperature, humidity, time and amount of sunshine.

In its guidelines for playing in heat, external, external, players' union Fifpro says a WBGT above 28C should lead to the "delay or postponement of matches" until conditions are safer.

Calculations of the WBGT for Miami at about kick-off give the WBGT as 28-30C.

There is no suggestion the game will not take place.

Image source, Getty Images

These places are all well and good when you are chilling on the beach, but let's just say that conditions are less than perfect for English and Norwegian footballers...professionals or otherwise...

Norway fans have waited patiently to reach another international tournament since their last appearance, way back at the 1998 World Cup in France.

But it's fair to say supporters are making the most of the occasion....

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

I don't think it's ever winter in Miami, is it? Cue widespread panic in January when the temperature dips below 20C...

We're upside down and back to front, yet united through football Steve. Isn't it the depths of winter in Brisbane too? Will it still be dark when the match kicks off?

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport

In this World Cup alone, Erling Haaland has netted the match winner in all four of his appearances so far - he was rested against France in the final group game with qualification secured - and got the better of old rival Gabriel of Arsenal in scoring twice against Brazil in the last 16.

Go further back and his Norway record is astonishing.

He has scored in 14 consecutive games for his country, totting up 27 goals in the process. In total, he has 62 in 51 matches for Norway, at a ludicrous rate of one goal every 71 minutes.

Superhuman statistics, even when compared with the international record of fellow heavyweights such as Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi, albeit they have all played many more minutes for their nations than Haaland.

Much of the build-up to tonight's match has centred on Harry Kane and Erling Haaland - just scroll down on this page for a flavour.

Ironically, Kane played a part in Haaland's move to Manchester City in 2022 when he failed to land a move to the Etihad in 2021.

Five years later and the pair are arguably the two best centre-forwards in the world [we know, we know Kylian and Lionel, we know].

Asked who is the better player, Kane said: "It is an impossible one for me to answer. First of all, I think we are completely different players almost. I know we are both seen as strikers, but it is almost two different positions, if I'm totally honest.

"Erling has been incredible, his goal-scoring record. Physically, he's a machine, he's a beast. His finishing is at the highest level, and obviously, his goal-scoring record speaks for itself."

Image source, Getty Images

Nine hours and counting now - can you feel the big-game vibes building?

Are you ready for this?

Do you still have obstacles to overcome before you can settle into your pre-match preparations?

Children's birthday parties, kids' sport matches, weddings or, heaven forbid, work!

Share your schedule and pre-match vibes - the more unusual the better - via the Get Involved button.

Image source, Hanna Fossum

Fans of football and Charli XCX's era-defining 2024 album Brat will love this top that Hanna in London has made for her favourite Norwegian player.

And if you're wondering why the Premier League player we all know as Erling Haaland has added 'Braut' to the back of his shirt, then wonder no further.

Watch the video below to find out about the names on the back of the Manchester City star's shirt.

Image source, Getty Images

The last time Norway competed at a World Cup, Erling Haaland was not even born.

Yet by helping his nation reach the quarter-finals of their first World Cup since 1998, Haaland has not just chalked off a personal milestone - he has completed a mission he has carried on his shoulders for years.

Now England, the country of his birth, stand in his way.

The hopes of the Scandinavian nation rested on the 25-year-old long before he scored 16 goals across eight matches in a dominant qualifying campaign, and then seven in four appearances at the tournament proper.

This was the case even before he became the fearsome Manchester City striker he is today.

Those hopes for Haaland can probably be traced back to when, in his early teens, his talent was spotted at Norwegian side Bryne and fast-tracked through their youth teams.

That talent grew and promise intensified during a club career carefully crafted to suit Haaland, and now, having won everything to win in club football with City, he is fulfilling his destiny for the national team too.

But things could have looked different.

Born in Yorkshire, the forward was eligible to play for England. But affinity with his home country meant there was little chance of that happening, even if it meant the chances of winning something at international level - or even regularly reaching tournaments - were slim.

Choosing Norway might have meant the career no superstar player wants - one that does not involve playing at a World Cup.

Haaland avoided that fate and, after scoring twice to oust five-time winners Brazil in the last 16, will be looking to end England's hopes of a 1966 repeat when Norway face them in Miami on Saturday.

But just what is it like being a global name from a nation with a population of just 5.5 million?

And is it really just Haaland standing between England and the semi-finals?

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport

When Haaland does not score for Norway, their win percentage drops dramatically compared with England's without Kane.

Their reliance on the Manchester City striker is evidenced by the fact they win less than a third of games where he is not on the scoresheet.

In the game he missed at these finals, they were dispatched 4-1 by France.

By contrast, Kane has been ably supported by Jude Bellingham, a fellow world-class operator who has scored four goals at this tournament, including vital strikes against Panama and Mexico.

Neutralise Haaland, neutralise Norway.

It is just that is easier said than done.

Read more analysis by clicking here

I hear you John, but wait until you see what happens to Norway's form when Erling Haaland is absent or off his game.

Alan Shearer
Former England striker

Image source, Getty Images

It is very tempting to look ahead at who we might face in our semi-final - either Argentina or Switzerland - but we have got to get past Norway first.

I am feeling confident but I think everyone would agree that if we can stop Erling Haaland then we have got a much better chance of winning that game.

Knowing that doesn't make doing it any easier, though - as Brazil found out when he scored twice to knock them out.

For his first goal, Gabriel has been criticised for not being close enough to challenge him for the header, but I'd say that is down to elite centre-forward play rather than being poor from the centre-half.

It is Haaland's movement that gets him that space, and then he is just a killer when he gets the sight of goal, especially inside the box - but then his second goal showed why you can't give him any room outside the area either.

He's relentless, and I don't think there's a way of stopping him. Instead you have to try to restrict his supply, at source, where the ball is coming from.

Some of the England defenders who might figure against Haaland - Marc Guehi, Nico O'Reilly and John Stones - are his team-mates at Manchester City but I don't think that helps or hinders them.

I honestly don't think it matters whether they know him or not because we all know him - we all watch him every week in the Premier League. If you don't know him by now, and what he can do, then what have you been watching?

He is world class, and pretty much the perfect centre-forward but you could say the same thing about Kane too. They are very different forwards but what is identical about both of them is their thirst for goals.

The form that both of them are in, it feels like it is going to be a shootout between two of the big guns, who are both eyeing the Golden Boot. Hopefully it's Harry who gets to fight another day.

Erling Haaland and Harry Kane have actually only played each other twice, and both in the space of three weeks in early 2023.

Haaland claimed the first, scoring the equaliser as City came from two goals down to win 4-2 at Etihad Stadium.

Kane got his revenge at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium shortly after as he grabbed the only goal in a 1-0 victory, becoming Spurs' all-time leading scorer in the process.

The gloves are off with a World Cup semi-final on the line.

Image source, Getty Images