Heavy Rain Halts World Cup Match in Philadelphia; France vs. Iraq Delayed by 2 Hours

2026 World Cup Key News

(CNA Philadelphia, June 22, via Reuters) Fans attending the 2026 North American World Cup were warned of potential weather disruptions before the tournament, and today's match between France and Iraq became the first in this edition to be delayed by more than 2 hours due to adverse weather.

According to AFP, the match kicked off at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, USA. France led 1-0 in the first half with a goal from Kylian Mbappe. As the players returned to the locker room for halftime, an emergency message suddenly appeared on the stadium's big screen: "Please leave open-air seating areas and proceed to sheltered areas of the stadium."

Approximately 70,000 spectators evacuated the venue. Many had already donned raincoats and waterproof jackets, and within 15 minutes, the stadium's indoor concourses resembled a crowded, bustling train station.

A fan from Paris expressed confusion about the evacuation order. The man, who asked not to be named, stood with his two sons and said, "We really didn't know what to do, we didn't get many instructions... I've been watching football for 40 years and have never seen anything like this. In France, we don't stop matches because of rain."

Steven Jouan, 32, and his partner traveled from South Carolina to Philadelphia to cheer for France. He said, "We brought raincoats, we came prepared."

He added, "We've attended different sporting events before and know that delays are common. Most other matches would be canceled in such a situation, but this is the World Cup, so you just have to be patient."

After the lightning stopped, a stadium announcement declared that the match would resume at 8 p.m. local time. France ultimately won 3-0.

Last year, the FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States as a "test event" for the World Cup, saw 6 matches delayed due to extreme weather. (Compiled by Chang Ming-hsuan) 0623

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