France continued their dominant run at the 2026 World Cup with a commanding win over Iraq, powered by a brilliant double from Kylian Mbappe, in a match interrupted for over two hours due to severe weather conditions in Philadelphia.
The French captain, who was making his 100th international appearance, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerful strike from distance that left Iraq goalkeeper Ahmed Basil with no chance. The goal set the tone early as France controlled possession and dictated the tempo.
Before kickoff, conditions were initially dry at Lincoln Financial Field, but a sudden storm rolled in late in the first half, forcing officials to halt the game at halftime.
Fans were directed to take shelter in covered areas as heavy rain and lightning swept across the stadium, causing a rare delay in the tournament.
When play resumed after more than two hours, France wasted no time asserting their dominance again. Iraq’s defensive lapse early in the second half gifted Mbappe his second goal in the 54th minute.
A poor back pass under pressure allowed Ousmane Dembele to intervene and set up Mbappe for a simple finish.
Dembele, last year’s Ballon d’Or winner, also got on the scoresheet himself in the 66th minute after a clever assist from Michael Olise, sealing a comfortable win for the tournament favourites.
Speaking after the match, France coach Didier Deschamps praised his team’s focus despite the disruption. “It was not easy with the delay and conditions, but the players stayed professional and got the job done,” he said.
Mbappe’s performance further strengthened his growing World Cup legacy. The forward now has 16 World Cup goals in his career, putting him just behind all-time record holder Lionel Messi in the tournament scoring charts.
With two wins from two matches, the France national football team have already booked their place in the round of 32, while Iraq face early elimination after another defeat.
Also Read: Victor Osimhen stays at centre of transfer drama as Galatasaray reject €125m bid
Iraq’s coach Graham Arnold admitted the weather break affected momentum. “We lost our rhythm after the interruption, and against a team like France, you cannot afford that,” he said.
France will next face Norway in their final group match, where another high-profile showdown is expected, as Mbappe continues his chase for World Cup history.
