France vs Iraq World Cup match in Philadelphia faces delay

France will meet Iraq in the second group match of the World Cup on Monday at 23:00 Dutch time in Philadelphia, but a forecast of hard wind gusts, heavy rain and thunderstorms raises the possibility that the game could be postponed. FIFA regulations state that a match must be stopped or postponed if lightning or thunder is observed within a 13‑kilometre radius of the stadium. If the 13‑kilometre condition is met, officials typically impose a half‑hour postponement before restarting play. This rule would apply to the France‑Iraq group encounter.

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Organisers have planned to postpone the start by thirty minutes whenever thunderstorm activity is detected inside the 13‑kilometre zone. Each postponement adds thirty minutes to the scheduled start time. The delay process repeats as long as thunderstorms persist within the specified radius. Ticket purchasers have received an official warning highlighting the adverse weather conditions. The warning references the forecast of hard wind gusts, heavy rain and thunderstorms expected in Philadelphia. Organisers emphasize that the match could be halted or postponed if the storm meets the criteria set by FIFA.