The World Cup match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday was delayed for more than two hours due to thunderstorms.
It started raining midway through the first half, and the game was suspended after the halftime whistle. After a day of approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes, play resumed at 8:00 PM ET.
Lincoln Financial Field was empty after Kylian Mbappé’s 14th-minute goal gave France a 1-0 lead. Due to inclement weather at the venue, fans were instructed to leave their seats and take shelter in the concourse.
“Due to inclement weather in Philadelphia, including the risk of lightning near the stadium, the FIFA World Cup match between France and Iraq has been canceled,” FIFA said in a statement.
“A 30-minute break has been announced. FIFA will resume play as soon as it is safe to do so, in accordance with the safety protocols established by local authorities.”
“The safety and security of every individual is FIFA’s top priority. We thank our fans for their understanding and cooperation.”
Follow the live match weather forecast and match highlights here.
The delay began when halftime began around 5:48 p.m. ET.
The game was scheduled to resume at 7 p.m. ET if the weather cleared, according to Fox. Around 6:30 p.m., the sun came out and many fans began returning to their seats, but were then told to return to the covered area.
As of 7 p.m., players had not returned to the field to warm up, further delaying the start of the game. At 7:30 p.m., the players returned to the pitch for warm-ups. The match resumed at 8 p.m.
FIFA does not have an official policy regarding delays due to lightning or storms.
Typically, a 30-minute delay is mandated if lightning strikes within 8 to 10 miles of the stadium. Each subsequent attack adds another 30 minutes of delay.
