France-Iraq match delayed two hours by Philadelphia storm

France's World Cup group match against Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia was suspended for more than two hours after a severe thunderstorm struck, with lightning detected within a 13‑kilometre radius of the open‑air stadium. France led 1‑0 at halftime thanks to captain Kylian Mbappé's strike.

Heavy rain began early in the first half, prompting stewards to ask all spectators to leave the uncovered stands, and the fans complied calmly. The stadium’s lack of a roof meant the weather directly affected the pitch and the audience.

FIFA regulations require a 30‑minute lightning‑free period before play can resume, and there is no fixed time limit after which a match must be abandoned. Each weather incident is therefore assessed individually by officials.

The France‑Iraq encounter became the tournament’s first match halted by weather, while the Norway‑Senegal game proceeded without interruption and saw Erling Haaland score two goals for Norway. Norway’s victory advanced them to the next round.

In New York, the baseball contest between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs was postponed due to the same storm system. The Norway‑Senegal match continued as scheduled despite the conditions.

Spain’s training session in Chattanooga was cancelled after a brief warm‑up when heavy rain and wind gusts up to 128 km/h forced players back indoors; only Victor Munoz of Osasuna was missing from the squad. The national weather service had issued a warning for severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes.

Jutta Leerdam and Shakira were among the spectators who praised Lionel Messi’s performance, describing it as a spectacular show. Their comments highlighted the continued excitement surrounding the tournament’s star players.

After a two‑hour delay, the second half of the France‑Iraq match finally kicked off, allowing the game to continue beyond the originally planned half‑hour postponement.