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A thunderstorm halted France's World Cup Group I clash with Iraq in Philadelphia for 131 minutes Tuesday—the longest weather delay in tournament history.
France was leading 1-0 when the half-time whistle sounded at 5:49 p.m. local time at Lincoln Financial Field. What would normally have been a 15-minute break was extended into a two-hour suspension, with play not resuming until 8 p.m. The total duration of the match approached four hours from kickoff to final whistle.
The suspension began when fans in the stadium were told to leave the stands and take shelter after an announcement about a "severe thunderstorm approaching."
Heavy rain, strong winds, and frequent lightning forced both players and fans to leave the field and stands.
The delay occurred due to strict safety rules set by local U.S. authorities. If thunder or lightning is detected within 8 miles of the stadium, play must stop. The match can only restart after 30 minutes with no lightning in that area.
The rules also state that any new lightning strike in the area resets the 30-minute countdown, regardless of how much time has passed.
During the France-Iraq match, repeated strikes kept resetting the clock, so the suspension lasted much longer than expected.
Organizers had initially hoped to restart the match at 7 p.m. local time, but conditions did not permit it. Play eventually resumed at 8 p.m., an hour later than the first target.
France's match against Iraq was the first game of the 2026 World Cup, delayed by bad weather, but such delays were not a surprise. Similar problems happened during last summer's Club World Cup, which also took place in the United States.
Covered stadiums and careful planning had prevented weather delays for the first 12 days of the tournament. However, the France-Iraq match was affected by conditions that organizers and local authorities could not control.
Despite the long delay, France played strongly once the match resumed. They won 3-0, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice and Ousmane Dembele adding another goal.
The result secured France's position in Group I and delivered one of the more convincing victories of the tournament, even if the match itself will be remembered as much for the circumstances as for the football.
The 131-minute suspension now stands as the longest weather-related delay in World Cup history, setting a benchmark that tournament organizers and host-city authorities are likely to examine closely as the competition continues at its U.S. venues.
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