Mbappé Scores Twice as France Defeats Iraq 3-0 to Reach Knockout Stage

PHILADELPHIA, June 23, 2026 — France secured a dominant 3-0 victory over Iraq in their Group I FIFA World Cup 2026 match, booking a place in the knockout stage after a strong all-round performance.

The match, played at Philadelphia Stadium, saw the French side control proceedings from the start. Star forward Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on an early opportunity to give France a deserved lead.

Iraq struggled to respond but continued to search for an equalizer throughout the first half. Despite their efforts, they were unable to break through the French defense.

A major interruption occurred during the first half when heavy rain hit the stadium. Conditions worsened by halftime, delaying the start of the second half by approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes due to weather disruptions.

When play resumed, Mbappé once again made an impact, scoring his second goal in the 54th minute. The strike marked his 16th career World Cup goal, bringing him level with Germany’s all-time World Cup top scorer Miroslav Klose.

France extended their lead in the 66th minute when Ousmane Dembélé added a third goal, sealing a comfortable 3-0 win.

With this result, France advanced to the knockout stage of the tournament, maintaining their strong form in the competition.