The match between France and Iraq was suspended at halftime. The stadium scoreboard instructed fans to leave their open seats and seek shelter. The reason was an approaching storm with torrential rain and thunder.
Spectators were moved from the stands to special shelter areas according to US safety protocols for stadiums without roofs. The halftime break was initially extended from 15 to 30 minutes. Under strict rules, stands and open areas must be cleared immediately once a lightning strike is detected within a radius of 13 kilometers. After the last lightning strike, a mandatory 30-minute pause applies, which restarts with each subsequent strike.
Whether and when the match can resume remained unclear. The US National Weather Service had issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Philadelphia on Monday evening, citing thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. In an emergency, a match can also be canceled entirely.
Source: www.sportschau.de
