Mbappé Double Helps France Cruise Past Iraq 3-0, One Foot in Knockouts
France dominated Iraq 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Ousmane Dembélé adding a third, securing their second straight win in Group I.
On June 25, 2026, France defeated Iraq 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia in their second Group I match of the FIFA World Cup. With the win, France now has six points from two matches, level with Norway at the top of the group, putting them in a strong position to advance.
France took control early. In the 14th minute, Michael Olise delivered a precise assist, and Kylian Mbappé calmly slotted the ball into the net to make it 1-0. The goal boosted France's confidence, while Iraq struggled to respond. France continued to press, but Iraq's goalkeeper made several saves to keep the scoreline 1-0 at halftime.
In the second half, France maintained their dominance. In the 54th minute, Ousmane Dembélé broke down the right flank and crossed for Mbappé, who tapped in from close range to double the lead. Mbappé's brace was his fourth goal of the tournament.
France sealed the victory in the 66th minute. Olise again turned provider, finding Dembélé, who drilled a low shot into the bottom right corner to make it 3-0. The goal effectively ended the contest. France had several more chances but failed to add to the tally. The match ended 3-0.
Statistically, France dominated: 19 total shots (5 on goal, 10 off, 4 blocked) compared to Iraq's 4 (0 on goal, 3 off, 1 blocked). France held 56% possession to Iraq's 44%, and had 4 corner kicks to Iraq's 2. Expected goals (xG) were 2.67 for France and 0.63 for Iraq. France completed 603 passes at 90% accuracy; Iraq completed 481 at 86%. Iraq received one yellow card; France none. France's goalkeeper made zero saves; Iraq's made two.
Player of the match was Kylian Mbappé, who played 89 minutes, scored two goals, had seven shots, two key passes, and 39 passes, earning a rating of 9.3. Mbappé, 27, plays for Real Madrid and has 97 caps for France. Born in Paris, he stands 180 cm tall and is valued at €200 million. His performance was instrumental in France's victory.
In the group standings, France and Norway both have 6 points, but France leads on goal difference (+5 vs +4). Iraq is bottom with 0 points, having lost both matches. Senegal also has 0 points but is third due to a better goal difference than Iraq.
France will secure qualification if they avoid defeat against Norway in their final group match on June 27. Iraq, meanwhile, must beat Senegal on the same day and hope France beats Norway to have any chance of advancing.
France showcased their depth and quality, while Iraq fought hard but were outclassed. France continues their march toward defending the title, while Iraq plays for pride. For more details, visit our match page, France team page, Iraq team page, or the group standings.