Has a World Cup game ever been abandoned before?

France vs Iraq at the 2026 World Cup kicked off at 9pm British time this evening, with Kylian Mbappe scoring the first half's only goal.

The Real Madrid star received the ball on the edge of the area after a deft cut-back from Michael Olise, before rifling it into the top corner.

Unfortunately for France, who could seal progression to the knockout stages of the World Cup this evening, the game has been repeatedly delayed due to thunderstorms — but has an abandonment ever occurred before?

Play our FREE World Cup match predictor and win £1k

Which World Cup games have been abandoned?

Which games in World Cup history have been abandoned? (Image credit: Getty Images)

In the build-up to international football's most prestigious tournament, there have been some bizarre abandonments.

During the World Cup qualifying phase, the precursor to the tournament itself, the following matches were abandoned.

Brazil vs Argentina (2021)

Brazil vs Argentina was called off just five minutes into the game in 2021, due to the breaking of quarantine protocol.

Brazilian health officials objected to the participation of three Argentina players who they believed broke said protocol.

Prior to the game, four England-based players for Argentina were told to quarantine by health authorities, however, they did not.

The players in question were believed to be Emiliano Buendia, Emi Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero.

The latter three all started the match, meaning the fixture was abandoned after just five minutes.

Players are forced to leave the field during this Brazil-Argentina clash in 2021 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Malaysia vs Saudi Arabia (2015)

This World Cup qualifier, conversely, was abandoned extremely close to the full-time whistle.

The match was called off in the 87th minute, with crowd trouble being the reason cited.

The game was 0-0 through its first 70 minutes, before Malaysia opened the scoring.

Saudi Arabia turned the match on its head with goals in the 73rd and 76th, prompting fans to throw fireworks and flares onto the pitch.

As a result, the Group A Asian Qualifying match was abandoned, as both teams' players left the pitch and did not return.

Crowd trouble at a game between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia back in 2015 (Image credit: Getty Images)

Poland vs England (2012)

In the build-up to the 2014 World Cup, this qualifying match was called off after officials deemed the pitch unplayable.

Bizarrely, the stadium's retractable roof had been left open through torrential downpour.

This was the first time since 1979 that an England match had been called off, with the game occurring in Warsaw.

Hilariously, the rain had already stopped at the time of kick-off, however, the damage to the pitch was inflicted in the hours prior.

To add insult to injury, the travelling Three Lions faithful were asked to remain in their seats after the abandonment, so that the locals could leave first.

Woy gets wet (Image credit: Getty Images)

Has a World Cup game ever been abandoned before?

At the actual tournament, not during qualifiers, it appears that a game has never been abandoned before.

As France and Iraq edge closer to being the first teams in history to suffer a World Cup abandonment, here are two close calls at the event.

England vs Sweden (2018)

In the build-up to England's quarter-final clash against Sweden in 2018, there were fears surrounding extreme weather.

The venue for the event, Samara, was hit by a record-breaking heatwave in the days leading up to the quarter-final.

The temperature, which exceeded 36 degrees, was the highest the city had experienced since 1954.

The heat was so intense that water pressure in the region was said to be affected, with the water authority suggesting that people shower together.

That statement turned out to be comedic, and misconstrued by the media, which the authority later clarified, ending all fears that the quarter-final could be affected by the heat.

USA vs Germany (2014)

Germany lifted the 2014 World Cup, but a crucial group stage clash vs the USA, in which the Germans won and topped the group, was close to being abandoned. (Image credit: Alamy)

Back to rain and torrential downpour; USA vs Germany at the 2014 World Cup was at risk of being abandoned due to wet weather.

Downpour did not relent for 12 hours in the build-up to the event, with main roads being flooded.

What fell in six hours in Recife that day represented 25% of the region's monthly average, according to a CNN meteorologist.

As a result, USA vs Germany was at severe risk of being postponed or abandoned mid-game, with Ghana vs Portugal also likely to be affected in the event of such an occurrence.

Despite this, the crucial game went ahead as planned, with Germany prevailing 1-0 and topping Group G at the tournament.

Chelsea went on to win the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, but an earlier face-off against Benfica was delayed in similar fashion to France vs Iraq (Image credit: Getty Images)

France vs Iraq has footballing precedent in the states, as seen during Chelsea and Benfica's Club World Cup clash last summer.

That match was delayed also due to lightning strikes, requiring the game to be halted for at least 30 minutes.

Ultimately, the face-off ended nearly five hours after it was due to kick off, so, football fans across the globe shouldn't be surprised if further occurrences are seen of such delays at the 2026 World Cup.