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The 2026 World Cup saw its first weather-related suspension, as the Group I clash between France and Iraq was halted at halftime following the arrival of thunderstorms in the vicinity.
Dangerous weather conditions had been predicted at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and across the broader Northeast region.
A powerful storm rolled in during the closing minutes of the first half. Play continued long enough for France to carry a 1–0 advantage into the break, courtesy of Kylian Mbappé's 15th World Cup goal of his career. However, moments after the players headed to the dressing rooms, officials announced a delay of at least 30 minutes before the restart.
"A severe thunderstorm is approaching, please exit the open seating area and seek shelter in the stadium as directed by the stadium staff," read the signs on the stadium's screens.
FIFA Statement on France vs. Iraq Weather Delay
Once the initial 30-minute window passed, the players were still confined to the locker room, as persistent lightning in the area continued to prevent the second half from getting underway. FIFA issued a statement offering more information about the ongoing situation.
"The situation is still being observed to determine if further delays are anticipated," FIFA's statement said, via The Athletic. "We will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities [and the match] will resume as soon as it is safe to do so."
While this marks the first weather-related suspension at the 2026 World Cup, such interruptions are far from unusual in MLS.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
In 2025, during the Club World Cup staged in the United States, several matches were disrupted by thunderstorms, most notably the Chelsea vs. Benfica fixture, which stretched beyond four hours in total duration.
The match is expected to resume at 7:50 p.m. EST / 4:50 p.m. PST / 12:50 a.m. BST.