World cup match between France and Iraq interrupted by severe weather

The World Cup match between France and Iraq was suspended for over two hours due to severe weather conditions at Lincoln Financial Field. FIFA protocols were activated after lightning strikes were detected within a 13-kilometer radius of the stadium. Following local US safety guidelines, the field and open stands were evacuated to ensure spectator safety. The 30-minute waiting period required by the protocol was repeatedly reset whenever new lightning activity was detected. Approximately 70,000 spectators remained in the stadium's covered areas during the delay. The match resumed at 03:00 local time, with France ultimately winning 3-0. This incident marked the first time the specific lightning protocol was applied during this tournament.