France Dominate Iraq to Advance in World Cup 2026
France booked their place in the knockout rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 3-0 victory over Iraq in Group I at Philadelphia Stadium. Kylian Mbappe scored a brace, and Ousmane Dembele added a third goal, securing a perfect start for the defending champions.
The match saw a lengthy weather delay due to heavy rain and lightning, but France remained focused after the break. Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute, his 15th World Cup goal on his 100th international appearance. The goal came from a combination with Michael Olise down the right side; Olise recovered the ball after an initial blocked pass and set up Mbappe at the edge of the box. Mbappe's powerful left-footed shot beat goalkeeper Ahmed Basil despite a touch.
Weather Delay and Second-Half Dominance
Play was suspended for nearly two hours due to severe weather. After the restart, France quickly regained control. In the 54th minute, a defensive error by Iraq proved costly. Defender Rebin Sulaka played a short backpass to goalkeeper Ahmed Basil following a goal kick. Under pressure from Ousmane Dembele, Basil failed to control the ball, allowing France to win possession. Dembele then squared the ball to Mbappe, who tapped into an empty net to double France's lead.
That goal took Mbappe's World Cup tally to 16, drawing him level with Miroslav Klose and leaving him just two goals behind Lionel Messi's all-time record of 18.
Dembele Scores First Major Tournament Goal
France added a third in the 66th minute. Ousmane Dembele scored his first World Cup goal and his first goal at a major international tournament. Michael Olise set him up inside the box, and Dembele finished with a powerful low right-footed shot into the bottom corner.
The result means France are perfect in Group I with two wins from two matches, securing their berth in the last 32. The defending champions have shown strong form as they aim to retain the World Cup title.
