Overview
- The France versus Iraq match in Philadelphia was suspended at halftime when lightning activity triggered U.S. storm rules, the stoppage lasted about two hours and France won 3–0 after play resumed.
- U.S. guidance used by match officials requires stopping outdoor events if lightning is detected within roughly 13 kilometers and waiting 30 minutes from the last strike before restarting, with the clock resetting if new lightning occurs.
- Players were sent to locker rooms and spectators were moved to safe areas inside the stadium while officials monitored strikes, a process that can produce long, unpredictable delays for fans and teams.
- FIFA does not set a single global lightning protocol for open stadiums and follows the host country’s safety regulations, a practice that already caused a more-than-two-hour delay at the 2025 Club World Cup in Charlotte.
- The incident highlights practical differences between venues because five of the 16 World Cup sites have retractable roofs that can be closed when feasible, while most open-air stadiums must rely on local weather rules and may face similar interruptions.