Philadelphia, Jun 23 (V7N)- Bad weather disrupted proceedings at Lincoln Financial Field as the FIFA World Cup Group “I” match between France national football team and Iraq national football team was suspended for more than two hours due to thunderstorms in Philadelphia.
The match resumed on Tuesday (June 23) after a delay of approximately 2 hours and 10 minutes, following improved weather conditions. Spectators had earlier been evacuated from seating areas as safety protocols were enforced due to lightning activity in the vicinity.
At the time of interruption, France were already in control of the match, with captain Kylian Mbappé delivering a standout performance. The match also marked his 100th international appearance for France, adding significance to the occasion.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the first half and later added another goal, helping France establish a commanding 2-0 lead before the weather delay. Iraq struggled to contain the French attacking pressure, with France dominating possession and creating multiple chances.
Following the long interruption, the tournament officials made the unusual decision to remove official hydration breaks for the second half in order to maintain the flow of the game and complete the match within schedule constraints.
After play resumed, France maintained control of the match, with Iraq unable to mount a significant comeback. The French side comfortably managed the game to secure a strong position in the group standings.
Officials emphasized that the suspension was in accordance with safety protocols, which require matches to be halted when lightning is detected within a dangerous range of the stadium.
END/SMA/AJ
