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Philadelphia: France continues to shine in the FIFA World Cup 2026, securing a convincing 3-0 victory over Iraq. Kylian Mbappe showcased his talent by netting two goals, while Ousmane Dembélé also contributed to the scoreline, ensuring an easy win for the French team. With this performance, Mbappe has now reached a total of 16 goals in World Cup tournaments, tying him with the legendary Miroslav Klose and leaving him just two goals shy of Lionel Messi's all-time record.

Mbappe initiated the scoring in the first half, assisted by Michael Olise. He added another goal in the second half, with Olise again providing the assist for Dembélé's third goal, which confirmed France's dominance. The match experienced a significant delay at halftime due to severe weather conditions, including heavy rain and lightning, which halted play for nearly two hours. France was already ahead 1-0 when the interruption occurred, and they resumed their control of the game after the break.

During the weather delay, fans were instructed to relocate to safer areas as a precautionary measure. According to US weather regulations, any match must be paused immediately if lightning is detected within an 8-mile radius of the venue. Fans are required to seek shelter, while players and officials return to their locker rooms.

The match can only resume after a 30-minute period without lightning since the last strike. If lightning occurs again, the countdown restarts. It's crucial to understand that these safety protocols are specific to the US and are not governed by FIFA, which has no authority to alter or override these regulations.

Weather-related interruptions are not uncommon in US football matches. Last year, during the Club World Cup, six matches faced delays totaling eight and a half hours, with one particular match between Chelsea and Dortmund being postponed for over four hours.