Fans were initially advised not to travel to Monday’s World Cup Group I match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia due to severe weather conditions in the region.
Heavy rainfall, along with forecasts of thunder and lightning, led to a temporary delay in gate opening at the match venue, the Lincoln Financial Field.
In a statement posted on X, stadium officials warned that “due to inclement weather in the region, gates opening will be delayed,” adding that supporters not already in the area should avoid travelling and that those nearby should seek shelter. A revised opening time was to be announced once conditions improved.
About four hours before kick-off, the area experienced a heavy downpour, though a later update—issued roughly two and a half hours before the scheduled start—confirmed that gates had reopened following the passing storm.
Kick-off for the 42nd match of the tournament remains scheduled for 17:00 local time (22:00 BST).
Under tournament safety protocols, if lightning is detected within an eight-mile radius of the stadium, matches must be suspended for at least 30 minutes, with fans moved to designated safe areas.
Despite the challenging weather, no World Cup matches have yet been directly disrupted by storms during the tournament.
