Iraq-France World Cup match in Philadelphia faces heat and storm threat

The scheduled 2026 World Cup group-stage match between Iraq and France is at risk from extreme heat and thunderstorms forecast for Philadelphia. CBS News weather projections put temperatures near Lincoln Financial Field at around 33°C, with heavy rain and lightning also expected. The French coaching staff cut short a training session on Friday and pulled players off the pitch when a sudden storm hit. Under FIFA protocol, play must be suspended immediately if lightning is detected within a 13-kilometer radius of the stadium, and the match cannot resume until 30 minutes have passed without a new strike. A Chelsea-Benfica Club World Cup fixture was previously delayed by roughly four and a half hours because of poor weather. Tournament officials are seeking to avoid similarly long stoppages, though fans at a match in Houston were left stranded inside the stadium on Saturday after a severe storm, even though the game itself was not postponed.