PHILADELPHIA — It was halfway through the France-Iraq rain delay, but on the 100-level concourse at Lincoln Financial Field, the game was just getting started.The players wore sneakers and slides, Christian Pulisic jerseys and France kits, and dribbled with bags of chips in hand, no hydration breaks in sight.“You’re on my team,” one kid said to another joining the group — though there were no teams, no goals, no offsides. There was just the concrete of the concourse, a miniature replica World Cup ball, and the rain.A thunderstorm had rolled in just after halftime. Fans, stadium workers and both teams waited out the rain for over two hours in this World Cup’s longest match to date.Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic appWhile the French and Iraq teams watched footage and tried to stay fresh in the locker room, and the grounds crew worked to keep the field playable during the thunderstorm, fans bided their time packed inside the concourse, spirits high.And a group of about a dozen kids picked up a ball and played.“It hasn’t been bad because it’s been fun playing soccer in here,” said Jonah Veldhouse, 14, in between passes.Waiting out the rain delay at Philadelphia StadiumMatt Slater and James HorncastleOne kid went down, brushed off his knees and got right back in the mix as the crowd grew. They chased after the ball as it skirted into the crowd and cheered for whoever brought it back to the makeshift pitch to dribble long enough until someone kicked it away again.“I’m enjoying the game a lot,” Veldhouse said when I asked. “It’s a good opportunity to play with little kids and share in their joy of the game.”He then paused to clarify — did I mean the actual match?Around the corner from the kids giving Kylian Mbappé a run for his money, a group of cousins congregated by a bar, singing and dancing to an Arabic song that paid tribute to their town, Alqosh, Iraq.The group had spent $600 per ticket — but “$700 on tequila” during the rain delay, they said — without a single regret.Fans wait during a weather suspension in Philadelphia. (Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images)“Spirits are very up right now. The rain delay can’t stop Iraq. If anything, it’s getting the energy way, way higher,” said Joseph Soro, hours before Iraq would give up two more goals to France in the second half.A handful of fans trickled out during the two-hour weather delay, mostly to catch poorly-timed trains and planes or relieve babysitters.“The game was awesome,” said Aaron Einstein, on his way out to get his kids home for bedtime. “Rainy day kind of sucked, but it happened.”One pair of friends decided that sticking out the rain wouldn’t be worth it just to see Iraq lose, which they did, 3-0, nearly four hours after the game started.“The weather is so bad, it’s unbearable,” Ibrahim Bassyouny said as he left the stadium.“The first half was really nice, our seats perfect, so we had a great time, and the rain at the beginning made it good, but now it’s getting worse and worse,” his friend, Ibrahim Alsarhani, said. “We’re going to a steakhouse.”Doug Cavagnaro (middle) and his buddies were just fine waiting out the rain. (Rebecca Tauber / The Athletic)But when the second half finally started, the stadium remained nearly full, drenched stands and all.“The last time the World Cup was here, it was in 1994, I was 15, so I couldn’t afford to go back then,” said Doug Cavagnaro, 47, at the match with his two best friends, whom he met playing soccer in New Jersey when he was 12. “On our soil, I may never have an opportunity to go to a World Cup again. So to have full circle, to go with the guys that I started playing soccer with, to see a World Cup match, that would be a memory of a lifetime.”Cavagnaro and his friends spent $1,200 each on resale tickets a week before the game. With rain ponchos sold out, they gave an event staff member $20 for three trash bags during the delay, though by the time they managed to put them on, the rain had cleared up and players had started warming back up on the field.“We spent more money than we would have liked, but we’re having a great time,” Zach Hibbs said.“It’s giving us a better hourly rate, too. We’re getting more for our money.”