The France vs Iraq match at the 2026 World Cup was suspended due to weather conditions and thunderstorms in Philadelphia, after heavy rainfall during the first half.
The 2026 World Cup is governed by a strict American thunderstorm protocol designed to protect players, fans, and stadium staff from the risks of lightning strikes during matches.
The protocol stipulates that a match must be immediately suspended when lightning or any electrical discharge is detected within an 8-mile radius — approximately 13 kilometres — of the stadium, with the playing surface evacuated and supporters moved to safe areas.
Once a lightning strike is recorded within that radius, a 30-minute waiting period begins. If that period passes without any new strikes being detected, the match may resume and players are permitted to return to the pitch.
If a new lightning strike is recorded during the suspension, the waiting period resets to zero, which can extend the stoppage for long stretches — sometimes running into hours, depending on how weather conditions develop.
Tournament regulations contain no provision allowing a match to be cancelled after a suspension exceeds a certain duration, meaning completion of the fixture remains contingent on an improvement in weather conditions and the application of the approved protocol.
The French national team had ended the first half leading 1-0, after Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring, before the start of the second half was delayed pending an improvement in weather conditions to allow the match to be completed.