BBC viewers were left baffled and frustrated late on Monday night after World Cup coverage suddenly disappeared from screens following a lengthy weather delay in Philadelphia.

Many football fans tuning in to watch France take on Iraq found themselves unexpectedly switched over to alternative programming as severe weather wreaked havoc with the Group I clash in the United States.

The disruption began when torrential rain swept across Philadelphia Stadium during the first half. Despite the worsening conditions, play continued until the interval, with France leading 1-0. But as BBC host Kelly Cates and pundits Olivier Giroud, Joe Hart and Gael Clichy started analysing the opening 45 minutes from the Salford studio, officials issued warnings about an approaching thunderstorm and instructed supporters inside the stadium to seek shelter.

It soon became clear the match would not restart anytime soon. FIFA confirmed the game had been suspended because of adverse weather conditions and the threat of lightning near the venue, with organisers closely monitoring the situation before deciding when it would be safe to resume.

With the delay stretching beyond the BBC’s scheduled broadcast window, producers were forced into a rapid reshuffle. Coverage that had been expected to continue until 12.30am was replaced by a repeat of Ollie Watkins’ earlier press conference and a feature from the Scotland camp presented by Eilidh Barbour.

As the wait dragged on, live football coverage disappeared altogether, making way for rolling BBC News programming.

The sudden switch sparked a wave of reaction online. Some viewers complained about losing access to the match, while others joked about how long the weather stoppage had lasted. One frustrated fan questioned why football coverage had been replaced, while others poked fun at the increasingly lengthy delay.

Eventually, the BBC returned to the tournament at 12.45am. However, viewers were greeted not by Kelly Cates in the studio but by commentators Steve Wilson and Stephen Warnock as preparations were made for the delayed restart.

The second half finally kicked off at around 1am, bringing an end to the lengthy interruption. France then completed a comfortable victory, extending their lead and securing a 3-0 win over Iraq.

While the result itself was straightforward, many viewers were left talking more about the weather chaos and the BBC’s last-minute scheduling changes than the football itself.