Kylian Mbappe scored twice as France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a weather-delayed World Cup clash, securing their place in the Round of 32 and maintaining their perfect start to the tournament.
France booked their place in the Round of 32 of the FIFA World Cup with a commanding 3-0 victory over Iraq in a weather-disrupted Group I encounter, as Kylian Mbappe once again proved the difference with a brilliant brace.
The gap in quality between the two sides was evident from the opening whistle, with France dominating possession and creating chances throughout a rain-soaked first half. However, Iraq’s disciplined defensive structure ensured the scoreline remained respectable during the early stages of the contest.
On a day when Lionel Messi made headlines by breaking the record for the most goals in World Cup finals history, Mbappe quickly reminded the football world why he remains one of the tournament’s biggest stars.
The French captain struck inside the opening 15 minutes, collecting a pass from Michael Olise before unleashing a powerful effort into the top corner beyond Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.
Despite taking the lead, France were unable to add a second before the interval. Mbappe continued to threaten and even attempted an ambitious effort from near the halfway line, but Iraq managed to survive further damage as heavy rain continued to affect conditions.
Mbappe 😮💨#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/S3T2FtuoCz
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 22, 2026
The match then faced a lengthy interruption just before halftime as severe thunderstorms swept across Philadelphia. The weather delay lasted nearly two hours, forcing players and supporters to wait before the second half could resume.
Once play restarted, Iraq gifted France a second goal through a costly mistake. A misplaced pass during a routine goal-kick sequence allowed Ousmane Dembele to pounce and square the ball for Mbappe, who calmly tapped into an empty net to score his 16th World Cup goal in just 16 appearances.
With the result effectively secured, France controlled the remainder of the contest. Michael Olise came close to adding another when his delicate chipped effort struck the crossbar, while Iraq struggled to create meaningful opportunities against Didier Deschamps’ well-organised side.
France eventually added a third goal late on when Dembele finally ended his long wait for a major tournament goal. The Ballon d’Or winner finished off a fine move created by Olise, driving a low shot into the corner from a tight angle.
The victory sends France comfortably into the knockout rounds, while Iraq must now defeat Senegal in their final group match to keep alive hopes of extending only the second World Cup campaign in their history.
