Iraq’s Hussein Ali in action with France’s Kylian Mbappe during the France v Iraq match in Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. on June 22, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
The start of the second half of France’s World Cup game against Iraq was delayed due to thunderstorms, FIFA said on Monday (June 22, 2026).
A FIFA spokesperson said the game would resume at least 30 minutes from when the halftime break started. “Please exit the open seating area and seek shelter in the stadium as directed by the stadium staff. A severe thunderstorm is approaching,” an advisory message on the scoreboard read.
FIFA World Cup 2026 | France vs Iraq updates on June 22, 2026
France were leading 1-0 after Kylian Mbappe scored his 15th goal at a World Cup in the 14th minute.
There was no indication on when the match would restart.
World Cup matches in the United States can face lengthy delays because FIFA must comply with local lightning safety regulations.
Under U.S. protocols, play is suspended immediately if lightning is detected within an eight-mile (13-km) radius of a stadium and can only resume after 30 minutes have passed without a further strike.
Any new lightning detection resets the countdown, meaning delays can stretch for several hours if thunderstorms persist.
FIFA has no fixed time limit after which a match must be abandoned, with each situation assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Published – June 23, 2026 04:51 am IST
