France vs Iraq is at risk due to severe storm warnings in Philadelphia, where the two nations are set to face off at 10pm on Monday, June 22. Heavy thunderstorms are forecast to begin near the stadium during the match, potentially putting the fixture at risk. If the weather affects the area, it will likely take longer than 90 minutes to complete the game.
FIFA Weather Protocol
FIFA rules dictate that play must be interrupted and delayed if lightning strikes within eight miles of the stadium. Should this happen, fans are also evacuated from the stands into the concourse or an emergency shelter area. Philadelphia Soccer 2026 chief operating officer Lauren Lambrugo explained the protocol: "They'll start to evacuate the stadium to the main concourse and seek emergency shelter. And then it has to wait 30 minutes prior to them bringing everybody back on the field."
Previous Weather Delays
Currently, there have been no World Cup matches delayed due to weather warnings. However, England's friendly against Costa Rica was delayed by an hour due to lightning strikes. Fans have been warned by a FIFA Fan Festival executive producer to monitor weather alerts and follow the rules. Michael DelBene said: "We've been very lucky, this past week has been wonderful. We encourage people to come out even if it's raining. In the event of dangerous weather, high winds or lightning or anything like that, we will evacuate the site."
