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Rabat – The 2026 FIFA World Cup match between France and Iraq was suspended at halftime on Monday after a severe thunderstorm reached Philadelphia.
France were leading the Group I encounter 1-0 when officials delayed the start of the second half because of lightning near Philadelphia Stadium.
Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of the opening period in the 14th minute, firing from outside the penalty area to give Didier Deschamps’ team the lead.
The goal was Mbappé’s 15th at the World Cup and came during his 100th appearance for the French national team.
Supporters told to seek shelter
Shortly after the halftime whistle, a message appeared on the stadium screens instructing supporters to leave the open seating areas and take shelter inside the venue.
The players remained in their dressing rooms while FIFA officials and local authorities continued to monitor the storm.
Heavy rain had already affected the match during the first half, while thunder and lightning became more serious during the break.
The dangerous weather was not unexpected. Organizers had delayed the opening of the stadium gates by around 40 minutes before the match and initially advised some supporters not to travel toward the venue.
A tornado warning was also issued for parts of the Philadelphia region as the storm brought strong winds, heavy rain and lightning.
How the lightning protocol Works
World Cup organizers must follow local safety rules at stadiums in the United States.
Under the protocol, play is stopped when lightning is detected within eight miles, or around 13 kilometres, of the venue.
The match can only resume once 30 minutes have passed without another lightning strike inside that area.
Every new strike resets the countdown, meaning a match can remain suspended for several hours when storms continue.
There is no fixed period after which FIFA must abandon a delayed match. Each situation is assessed separately based on the weather, the condition of the pitch and the safety of players and supporters.
Teams must also be given enough time to warm up again before returning to the field.
Deschamps admitted that the changing warnings made it difficult to keep his players informed.
He said France would need a proper second warm-up to help the players regain their rhythm once conditions became safe.
Important match for both teams
France entered the game after defeating Senegal 3-1 in their opening group match, with Mbappé scoring twice.
Iraq began their campaign with a 4-1 defeat against Norway but showed resistance during the first half against the former world champions.
The final decision on restarting the match remained dependent on improved weather conditions and approval from the officials and local safety authorities.
