why is france vs iraq delayed

France vs Iraq was delayed because of severe weather in Philadelphia , with thunderstorms and lightning near the stadium forcing organizers to pause play for safety. FIFA’s safety protocol requires a stoppage when lightning is detected close enough to the venue, and the match was eventually resumed once conditions were safe.

What happened

• The game was interrupted at halftime because of thunderstorms in the area.

• Stadium officials told fans to take shelter, and the delay lasted about two hours.

• Reports say this was the first weather-related delay of the tournament.

Why it was stopped

• Lightning near an outdoor stadium is treated as a safety risk, so the match must be paused.

• The 30-minute countdown resets if lightning is detected again within the danger zone.

Outcome

• After the delay, France went on to beat Iraq 3-0.

• The match finished much later than scheduled because of the weather interruption.