France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a Group I match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Philadelphia Stadium, in a game heavily affected by adverse weather conditions.
As expected, Les Bleus dominated proceedings against their Middle Eastern opponents from the outset. France took the lead early in the 14th minute when Kylian Mbappé produced a superb left-footed strike to find the back of the net. As the rain intensified, the quality of the match gradually declined. Although France continued to control possession and dictate the tempo, they were unable to add a second goal before halftime.
The start of the second half was delayed by two hours due to the threat of lightning. However, the interruption did little to disrupt Mbappé’s rhythm. The French captain doubled both his tally and his team’s advantage in the 54th minute. Ousmane Dembélé then got on the scoresheet in the 66th minute to put the result beyond doubt.
With the victory, France moved to six points and remained top of the Group I standings.
