Severe weather halts World Cup match; Mbappé, Messi set records

Severe weather disrupted the World Cup on its twelfth matchday, forcing a nearly two-hour suspension of the game between France and Iraq. This interruption, caused by intense rain and lightning, is a historic first for the tournament.

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The match was stopped because it was raining very hard during halftime and there was lightning within a 13-kilometer radius of the stadium.

The match, held in Philadelphia, was halted during halftime due to a severe thunderstorm. Lightning within a 13-kilometer radius of the stadium prompted local authorities to intervene, adhering to FIFA's need to comply with local safety regulations. American protocols dictate that play stops immediately if lightning is detected within this range and can only resume after 30 minutes of no electrical activity, potentially leading to lengthy delays.

France ultimately secured a convincing 3-0 victory, with star player Kylian Mbappé scoring twice. These goals bring his career World Cup tally to sixteen, placing him second on the all-time scorers list, tied with Miroslav Klose. Earlier in the day, Lionel Messi set a new World Cup record by scoring his twentieth goal, surpassing previous records during Argentina's match against Austria.

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According to American protocols, the game is immediately stopped if lightning is observed within a 13-kilometer radius of a stadium.

Another match, between Norway and Senegal, also experienced weather-related disruptions. Spectators at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey were briefly evacuated before kickoff due to heavy rain and anticipated flooding. Norway went on to win that match 3-2, with Erling Haaland scoring twice.

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The Frenchman now has sixteen World Cup goals in his career.