FrancevsIraq

France ran out comfortable winners over Iraq 3–0. Goalscorers — France: Kylian Mbappé 14', Kylian Mbappé 54', Ousmane Dembélé 66'.

France met Iraq in Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on Monday, June 22, 2026. It is one of the six matches in Group I, where the four sides each play three games and the top two advance directly to the Round of 32. With the eight best third-placed teams across the 12 groups also progressing, points here carry real weight from the opening whistle.

France go in ranked 1st in the FIFA World Ranking to Iraq's 57th — a gap of 56 places that marks France out as clear favourites on paper. It is an inter-confederation meeting — France of UEFA against Iraq of AFC — the kind of contrast in styles the World Cup exists to stage.

France enter the 2026 World Cup as one of the most talent-rich squads in the tournament, seeking to bounce back after their heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat in the 2022 final against Argentina. Under Didier Deschamps, who is expected to step down after the 2026 World Cup with Zinedine Zidane widely tipped to succeed him, Les Bleus possess extraordinary depth across every position.

Iraq are a team whose footballing achievements are remarkable given the decades of conflict and instability the nation has endured. The Lions of Mesopotamia won the 2007 Asian Cup in one of the most extraordinary sporting stories ever told, uniting a war-torn nation through football.

France: France have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 as hosts and in 2018 in Russia. Iraq: Iraq have appeared at one World Cup, in 1986 in Mexico, where they were eliminated in the group stage after losses to Paraguay, Belgium, and a draw with Mexico.

The match is scheduled at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, United States. Kickoff is scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2026 at 09:00 PM (05:00 PM ET).