Storms halt France's World Cup match vs Iraq at halftime as Philadelphia evacuated; Norway game under flood threat

Philadelphia match halted

France's second group-stage match against Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field was suspended at halftime when a powerful thunderstorm, accompanied by a tornado warning, swept into Philadelphia. The kick-off had gone ahead as scheduled at 23:00 German time despite earlier weather alerts. Around the 35th minute, torrential rain began, and by the break the stands were evacuated on safety grounds. Kylian Mbappé had put the Group I favourites 1-0 up with a 14th-minute goal, and a win would have secured France's progress.

“A severe thunderstorm is approaching. Please leave the uncovered seating area. Seek shelter as directed by stadium personnel.”

Safety rules in play

Under US weather protocols, any lightning strike within 13 kilometres of a stadium triggers an immediate evacuation and a mandatory 30-minute waiting period after the last detected bolt. The pause for France-Iraq was initially extended from 15 to 30 minutes, and all fans were directed to covered shelter areas. The fan zone outside the stadium was also shut. ARD expert Thomas Hitzlsperger noted the absence of a roof at the Philadelphia venue, while former Germany international Robin Gosens described the player experience.

“I would get fidgety and impatient. As a player, you don't know exactly what to do now. You have your routines, you do the things that you know are good for you. That gets interrupted.”

Norway game under threat

While the France match was ongoing, a separate flood warning was issued for the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where Norway and Senegal were due to meet at 20:00 local time on Monday. The US National Weather Service warned of showers and thunderstorms capable of dumping up to five centimetres of rain per hour, creating flash-flood risks. New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani urged fans to plan ahead and allow extra time. The city's emergency management office also advised that umbrellas are banned inside the stadium and recommended ponchos. Lightning within a 12-km radius would force an interruption of that match as well.

“I call on everyone to plan ahead and allow extra time for safe travel. No destination is worth risking your safety. If the weather worsens, stay indoors and wait until travel is safe again.”

Wider context

Weather-related suspensions are rare at World Cups but not unprecedented. Club World Cup action in 2025 saw Benfica against Chelsea paused for 90 minutes in Charlotte, North Carolina. In the 1974 tournament, Germany versus Poland in Frankfurt was delayed by half an hour after a cloudburst turned the pitch into a waterlogged battlefield. FIFA rules permit the postponement, relocation or cancellation of matches on safety grounds, though the tight tournament schedule makes rescheduling a complex organisational challenge.