WORLD CUP: France-Iraq endures 2-hour weather delay at halftime

PHILADELPHIA — The Group I match between France national football team and Iraq national football team was suspended for two hours due to severe weather, marking the first weather-related stoppage of the 2026 World Cup.

Lightning in the area forced officials to halt play immediately after the first half ended at approximately 6 p.m. local time. The match did not resume until around 8 p.m.

As soon as referee Drew Fischer signaled the halftime break, a stadium message appeared instructing spectators to take shelter.

“Please exit the open seating area and seek shelter in the stadium as directed by stadium staff. A severe thunderstorm is approaching,” the announcement read.

Kylian Mbappé had given France a 1-0 lead at halftime, scoring his third goal of the tournament.

While the first 41 matches of the tournament had proceeded without weather interruptions, delays were a common occurrence during the 2025 Club World Cup, which was also staged in the United States.

Six matches were affected overall, including a two-hour suspension after halftime in the Benfica vs. Auckland City match in Orlando, Florida.

— Reporting by Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media/Reuters