France’s World Cup 2026 clash with Iraq was brought to a temporary halt after severe weather conditions hit the stadium in Philadelphia.

The Group I match had already delivered a big moment before the interruption, with Kylian Mbappé firing France into a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute. The French forward sent a powerful strike toward goal, and although Iraq’s goalkeeper managed to get a touch on it, the shot carried too much power to be stopped.

It was a classic Mbappé moment — quick, explosive and decisive. France looked in control after the early goal, while Iraq were trying to stay compact and respond under pressure.

But the match then took an unexpected turn as harsh weather conditions forced officials to pause the game. Heavy rain and storm activity around the stadium made it unsafe to continue, with the match status listed as interrupted.

For both teams, the delay created a difficult situation. France had momentum after taking the lead, while Iraq were still fighting to stay in the game and look for a way back.

The priority now is safety, with players, staff and supporters waiting for updates on when the match can resume.

ExtraTime24 will continue following the situation as France and Iraq wait to return to action.