France’s group-stage clash with Iraq was delayed mid-match due to lightning in the area as Fifa’s World Cup 2026 weather protocol was actioned.
After heavy rain brought about the wettest half of football seen at this World Cup so far, the storm in the Philadelphia area escalated at half-time to lightning, meaning players and fans were forced inside.
Fifa is adhering to rules set by local authorities during the tournament, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) saying that if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium the game has to be stopped.
This sparks a countdown of 15 minutes, which resets every time another lightning strike happens. Once that 15-minute timer has elapsed, the players return to the pitch for a 15-minute warm-up.
The restart at Lincoln Financial Field has been pushed back nearly two hours due to more lightning strikes, with Fifa saying in a statement: “Due to the adverse weather conditions and the risk of lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the Fifa World Cup match between France and Iraq has been suspended.
“A 30 minute break has been announced, however the situation is still being observed to determine if further delays are anticipated.
“Fifa will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities and the match will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
“The safety and security of all individuals is Fifa’s priority. We thank all fans for their understanding and co-operation.”
This highlights the real risk of matches at the World Cup facing long weather delays if thunderstorms hit in close proximity to the stadiums in use.
The tournament – co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico – is being held in the peak of storm season in parts of the countries, with strict rules in place for lightning in the US particularly.
The weather, including the threat of lightning, already played a role in preparation for the tournament, with England’s friendly with Costa Rica delayed by an hour after heavy rain and the prospect of lightning in the Orlando area.
While a scorching New York City, with temperatures in the mid-30s during the opening days of the tournament, experienced heavy rainfall, thunder and lightning less than 24 hours before Brazil face Morocco in New Jersey.
That was a scenario seen several times during last year’s Club World Cup in the US, with six matches halted due to electrical storms.
That included an encounter between Chelsea and Benfica which kicked off at 4.38pm local time and eventually finished four hours and 38 minutes after it had begun.
Stadiums in the Gulf Coast area and south east of the United States are likeliest to come under threat from thunderstorms, with Fifa addressing each match on a case-by-case basis if play is halted.
Issues could potentially arise if storms hit during the final round of group-stage games. The kick-off times of the two games in each group are synchronised to avoid affording an advantage to any nation by knowing what they need to do, although that may be unavoidable under such circumstances as a weather delay.
Were conditions sufficiently dangerous to force an abandonment, World Cup regulations state that the game would be played on a future date, restarting in the same minute as it was paused, with the remaining minutes played.
