PHILADELPHIA— France won 3-0 against Iraq at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Monday in a match that will be remembered mainly for an exceptionally long delay due to heavy weather. The Group I match was halted for almost two hours after heavy thunderstorms and lightning struck Philadelphia. It was the first weather-related interruption of the W 2026.
The French led 1-0 at halftime thanks to a goal by star player Kylian Mbappé. However, shortly after half-time the game was halted when thunderstorms and lightning reached the area surrounding the stadium. Safety regulations in the United States (US) require that a match be stopped immediately if lightning is registered within approximately eight miles of the stadium.
Why did the interruption last so long?
The lengthy interruption had everything to do with US safety regulations. After lightning is detected, a match may not be resumed until no new lightning discharges have been observed for thirty minutes. Each new lightning bolt resets that waiting time to zero. As multiple thunderstorms passed through Philadelphia, the clock had to restart repeatedly, ultimately lasting nearly two hours.
Before the game, weather warnings had already been issued for heavy rain, high winds, lightning and even possible tornadoes. The opening of the stadium gates was postponed earlier in the day and supporters were advised to seek temporary shelter.
France maintains concentration
After the restart, France had little difficulty in finally taking control of the match. Mbappé scored his second goal of the evening and Ousmane Dembélé also scored. In doing so, France secured a convincing 3-0 victory and qualified for the knockout stages of the tournament.
Mbappé, who played his hundredth international match against Iraq, has sixty international goals. With his two goals he reached sixteen World Cup goals in as many games. On the World Cup all-time top scorer list, the Frenchman surpassed Brazilian Ronaldo (fifteen goals) and tied with Miroslav Klose. Lionel Messi, who scored twice for Argentina earlier on Monday, leads the list with eighteen World Cup goals.
The match is now serving as a warning for what organizers may experience more often during the World Cup in North America. The tournament is played in the summer months, when thunderstorms are common in parts of the US. Fifa said that the safety of players, officials and spectators always comes first and that there is no fixed time limit after which a match is automatically abandoned. Each situation is assessed individually.
