France-Iraq game resumes after lengthy weather delay

 France's World Cup game against Iraq resumed after a delay of almost two hours caused by thunderstorms and lightning at halftime on Monday.

Players returned to the pitch for a 20-minute warm-up at 1930 local time (2330GMT) with France leading 1-0 after a 14th-minute goal by Kylian Mbappe.

It is a first time a game in this year's tournament has suffered a weather-related delay.

World Cup matches in the United States can face lengthy delays because FIFA must comply with local lightning safety regulations.

Under U.S. protocols, play is suspended immediately if lightning is detected within an eight-mile (13-km) radius of a stadium and can only resume after 30 minutes have passed without a further strike.

Any new lightning detection resets the countdown, meaning delays can stretch for several hours if thunderstorms persist.

FIFA has no fixed time limit after which a match must be abandoned, with each situation assessed on a case-by-case basis.