France-Iraq World Cup match suspended over severe weather in Philadelphia

The World Cup match between France and Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium has been suspended because of a severe thunderstorm warning, according to officials. Spectators were told to seek shelter.

The match was being played Monday at Philadelphia Stadium, the World Cup name for Lincoln Financial Field. Rain intensified in the final minutes of the first half, and the suspension was announced during the halftime break.

Stadium alerts told fans to seek shelter because of the severe thunderstorm warning while directing them toward exits.

The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Mount Holly issued a severe thunderstorm warning for parts of the Philadelphia area until 6:45 p.m., warning of wind gusts up to 60 mph and possible pea-sized hail. The warning covered Philadelphia and parts of southeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

Under U.S. protocols, play is stopped immediately if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of a stadium and can resume only after 30 minutes pass without another strike, Reuters reported. Any new lightning strike resets the clock, allowing delays to stretch for hours if storms remain in the area.

FIFA has no fixed time limit for abandoning a suspended match, with each situation assessed case by case, according to Reuters.

The France-Iraq match appears to be the first match suspended during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.