World Cup: France-Iraq endures 2-hour weather delay at halftime

Field Level Media|published: Mon 22nd June, 20:37 2026

June 22, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.; A thunderstorm warning is shown on the big screen as rain begins during the match. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

PHILADELPHIA -- The Group I clash between France and Iraq endured a two-hour delay for severe weather, the first such stoppage at the 2026 World Cup.

Because of lightning in the area, the game entered a delay as soon as the first half ended at roughly 6 p.m. local time, and play did not officially resume till about 8 p.m.

As soon as referee Drew Fischer blew the whistle for the break, the following message was posted on the scoreboard: "Please exit the open seating area and seek shelter in the stadium as directed by the stadium staff. A severe thunderstorm is approaching."

France led 1-0 at halftime through Kylian Mbappe's third goal of the tournament.

While the first 41 matches of the tournament have proceeded without any weather stoppages, delays were a regular feature of the 2025 Club World Cup, also played in the United States.

Six matches were impacted in total. The most drastic was a two-hour stoppage following halftime in the match between Benfica and Auckland City in Orlando, Fla.

--Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media

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