What Time Does France vs Iraq World Cup Match Start?

France's second game is against Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium, and a win for the French would see them advance to the knockout stages.

The France vs Iraq match is scheduled to be the second game of the day, with Group I heading into matchday 2. France and Iraq meet before Norway vs Senegal, which is being played at the New York/ New Jersey Stadium.

The weather conditions on the East Coast include thunderstorms and heavy rain, which could cause delays in both matches.

The match that could face serious issues in terms of delays is the France vs Iraq match at Philadelphia Stadium. The match is scheduled to be played at 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT in the United States, with the local time at the Philadelphia Stadium to be at 5 p.m.

The New Potential Start Time for France vs Iraq

If France vs Iraq does not start at 5 p.m. local time due to the weather conditions, which the forecast suggests severe storms during the time of the match.

The protocol is that if lightning is detected up to 8 miles (13km) from the stadium, the game will be suspended for 30 minutes. Each new lightning strike resets the countdown.

With the match set to kick off at 5 p.m. local time at Philadelphia Stadium, the forecast currently reads that there is a 40% chance of thunderstorms between 6 and 7 p.m.

If the bad weather starts at 5 p.m., the game's kick-off could potentially be delayed between 1 and 2 hours.

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This story was originally published June 22, 2026 at 11:19 AM.