The upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match between Iraq and France faces a potential delay due to a severe thunderstorm forecasted to hit the city of Philadelphia.
The highly anticipated fixture is originally scheduled to kick off at 12:00 AM on Tuesday. However, according to reports from Radio Ouest-France, FIFA officials are currently evaluating a postponement of the match.
Meteorological reports confirm that substantial thunderstorms are expected in the area between 9:00 PM and 2:00 AM. Consequently, heavy rainfall is anticipated at the stadium, creating unfavorable and potentially hazardous playing conditions during the scheduled kickoff time.
Current projections suggest postponing the encounter for a few hours, potentially rescheduling the kickoff to 3:00 AM once the weather conditions improve. This consideration is heavily influenced by the notoriously strict lightning and severe weather protocols enforced in the United States.
As of now, FIFA has not issued an official statement regarding the matter, as they await further confirmation before deciding whether to officially delay the match or proceed as originally scheduled.
In the opening matches of this group, France secured a 3-1 victory over Senegal, while Iraq suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Norway.
