Thunderstorm alert in Philadelphia delays France-Iraq World Cup kickoff

The highly anticipated second match of the French national team in the 2026 World Cup, facing Iraq, faced an unexpected setback in Philadelphia. A thunderstorm alert was issued at the stadium just hours before the scheduled kickoff on Monday at 11:00 PM local time.

Organizers and officials are currently assessing the situation. The possibility of a delayed start is now under serious consideration, as safety protocols for both players and spectators take priority over all other concerns.