France beat Iraq 3-0 in a World Cup match in Philadelphia that was suspended for two hours and 15 minutes at halftime after thunderstorms swept through the city.
Heavy rain had pelted spectators inside Lincoln Financial Field, which FIFA renamed "Philadelphia Stadium" for the tournament, as Kylian Mbappe and his teammates played through the downpour in the first half.
The match reached halftime without incident before the torrential storms rolled in over the city. Warnings then appeared on stadium screens ordering fans to evacuate their seats and seek shelter, while players stayed in the locker room as the delay stretched on.
Delay stretches through the evening
Play had initially been expected to resume around 7pm ET, with players due back on the field around 6:30pm to warm up. A further delay was announced at 6:40pm, with more expected, drawing a chorus of boos from the crowd.
The players finally returned down the tunnel at 7:30pm to warm up, and the second half resumed at 8pm.
Mbappe's opener and two more goals
France had taken a 1-0 lead before the break thanks to Mbappe's opening goal, a strike from long range at the edge of the penalty area that flew into the top corner. After the delay, the Real Madrid forward doubled France's lead before Ousmane Dembele added a third.
Coaches and fans scramble for cover
While players were left drenched in the first half, coaches and substitutes on both benches scrambled for shelter from the weather. Iraq manager Graham Arnold was seen hiding under the small structure covering his team's bench, before a staff member handed him a poncho, which he quickly discarded when it proved no match for the rain.
Signs had gone up inside the stadium before kickoff ordering anyone inside the venue to find shelter immediately. Organizers also told fans that gates would stay shut longer than planned and urged anyone heading to the stadium to stay away and remain indoors.
"Due to inclement weather in the region, gates opening will be delayed," organizers said in a statement. "If you are not in the area, please do not travel to Philadelphia Stadium at this time. A new gates opening time will be communicated once the weather has passed. If you are near Philadelphia Stadium, please take shelter."
Wider impact across the region
Gates eventually opened about 30 minutes later than planned, and the game kicked off at 5pm ET as scheduled. A FIFA fan park in the city was also closed because of the storms, which were forecast to continue through the afternoon and into the evening.
Nearly 100 miles away at MetLife Stadium outside New York, storms and heavy rain were also expected ahead of a Norway vs Senegal match later in the day. A watch party for that game, planned at the US Open tennis venue in Queens, was called off because of the bad weather.