France secured their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a convincing 3-0 victory over Iraq, as captain Kylian Mbappe continued his remarkable scoring form by netting twice.
The French star opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerful strike from outside the box before adding his second goal early in the second half. Ousmane Dembele also got on the scoresheet as France recorded back-to-back wins in Group I.
The match, played in Philadelphia, was interrupted by severe weather conditions. Heavy rain and thunderstorms forced a lengthy delay at half-time, with players and fans taking shelter before play resumed more than two hours later.
Despite the disruption, France remained dominant throughout the contest. Iraq struggled to contain the tournament favourites and were punished after a costly defensive error gifted Mbappe an easy finish for his second goal of the evening.
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Dembele later wrapped up the victory with a well-taken effort after being set up by Michael Olise, ensuring France maintained their perfect start to the tournament.
Mbappe’s brace took his World Cup tally to 16 goals, further strengthening his place among the competition’s greatest scorers. The Real Madrid forward has now scored four goals in two matches at this year’s tournament.
With six points from two games, France have already booked their place in the Round of 32 and will face Norway in their final group match. Iraq, meanwhile, are on the brink of elimination after suffering their second consecutive defeat.
France’s impressive display underlined their status as one of the leading contenders for the World Cup title as they continue their quest for global glory.
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