The BBC was forced to make some last-minute changes during its late-night World Cup broadcast. Kelly Cates returned to screens on Monday night (June 22) to front BBC One’s coverage of France’s Group I clash against Iraq, held at Philadelphia Stadium in the USA. Kelly was joined in the Salford studio by Olivier Giroud, Joe Hart and Gael Clichy.
Coverage got under way at 9.30pm and was anticipated to run until 12.30am, but an unforeseen delay prompted the broadcaster to make some last-minute adjustments. Supporters and players at the Philadelphia stadium were left soaked when a torrential downpour began in the 35th minute of the match. The game pressed on until half-time, with France holding a 1-0 lead. As Kelly and the pundits began dissecting the opening half, spectators were instructed to seek shelter after being warned of a “severe thunderstorm approaching”, reports the Mirror.
It was swiftly confirmed that the match would not resume for at least an hour. The BBC had only scheduled their live coverage to continue until 12.30am, with plans rapidly being changed.
In its place, a rerun of Ollie Watkins’ press conference from earlier in the day was broadcast, alongside a feature from the Scotland camp with Eilidh Barbour. As the delay dragged on, the football coverage was eventually pulled from the air in favour of rolling BBC News programming.
A FIFA spokesperson said: “Due to adverse weather conditions in Philadelphia, including the risk of lightning in the vicinity of the stadium, the FIFA World Cup match between France and Iraq has been suspended. A 30-minute break has been announced.”
The statement continued: “However, the situation is still being observed to determine if further delays are anticipated. FIFA will follow the safety protocols established by the local authorities, and the match will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. The safety and security of all individuals is FIFA’s priority. We thank all fans for their understanding and cooperation.”
The BBC returned to its World Cup coverage at 12.45am, with commentators Steve Wilson and Stephen Warnock leading proceedings, rather than Kelly in the studio. The second half eventually got under way at 1am, with France going on to claim a 3-0 victory.
The disruption left many BBC viewers both confused and frustrated, with one person posting on X (formerly Twitter): “Why f*** are the BBC polluting my living room with Keir Starmer [news], when I’m just trying to enjoy France vs Iraq?! Get this off!!”
Another commented: “If this weather suspension goes on any longer the BBC are going to find themselves with no other option but to play footage from the 1936 Berlin Olympics,” while a third remarked: “First weather delay of the 2026 World Cup just hit.”
Coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 is available to stream on BBC iPlayer and ITVX
