We’ve been through an awful lot tonight,” screamed the stadium announcer during a weather delay lasting more than two hours in the match between France and Iraq.
It was a challenging night for players, coaches – and all 68,344 fans inside Philadelphia Stadium.
A game that started at 17:00 local time finally ended at 20:47 because of safety concerns amid adverse weather conditions.
Rain was falling and storm clouds were building when Canadian referee Drew Fischer blew for half-time at 17:49 with France leading 1-0.
Then came even heavier rain and a threat of thunderstorms in the area.
When it was finally deemed safe enough to resume, it was 20:00.
France, eager to make up for lost time, scored another two goals to run out 3-0 winners, with captain Kylian Mbappe scoring a double on his 100th international appearance as Les Bleus reached the last 32.
There was no hydration break in the second half, while there were just two minutes of additional time at the end.
“It was a very long evening,” said Mbappe.
“We spent a lot of time waiting. It’s emotionally and mentally draining because we had to stay fully focused and engaged in the dressing room.
“Staying in the dressing room for an hour and a half – almost two hours – while maintaining focus is very difficult. It demands a lot. The players made a huge effort, as did the staff.”
So what did they do in the delay?
“We played cards,” joked France boss Didier Deschamps.
“No, well, we were waiting. We had slots that kept being pushed forward again.
“I was actually having a good time with my players and having fun.
“It’s a question of safety. You cannot fight against the rain and lightning.
“It doesn’t annoy me. These are very special circumstances and I do hope they don’t happen again. It was important to take no risks.”
‘First time I have experienced this’
This was the 42nd match at this World Cup – and the first stopped because of weather.
Fifa has no power to make its own rules when it comes to adverse weather, and must adhere to the advice of local authorities.
In the United States, recommendations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are used.
The NOAA says that if any lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium the game has to be stopped.
Local cable TV networks had been speculating about the weather for the past two days and how it would affect this game.
The sun was shining in Philadelphia hours before kick-off but, after the referee blew for half-time, then came the heavy downpours and threats of thunder and lightning.
During the interval the skies opened further, while spectators were told to seek shelter in the stadium concourses.
Despite taking shelter in the concourse for the whole of the delay, most supporters looked as though they stayed with the stadium appearing full again upon the restart.
The players finally re-emerged for warm-ups about one hour and 40 minutes later, and even then the restart was delayed further as stadium personnel used squeegees to remove standing water off the pitch.
When play did finally get back under way, Iraq gifted France and Mbappe a second goal after a mistake from a goal-kick.
Iraq’s Australian head coach Graham Arnold believes the long delay could have contributed to the mistake.
“I said to the players before we went out again it was a case of who switches on more mentally. The disappointing thing was the mistake hurt us,” he said.
“The two-hour stoppage obviously made it much harder for the players. It’s the first time I have experienced it as coach or a player.”
Arnold said he used the time with his players to go through footage of the first half.
“It was more about the players sitting and relaxing and get themselves ready to go out there again. It was a unique experience for all of us.
