Mbappe scores twice as France thrash Iraq and reach World Cup 2026 knockouts

France claimed a convincing victory over Iraq in the second round of the 2026 World Cup group stage. The match in Philadelphia lasted almost three hours because of a severe thunderstorm and heavy rain, but the long delay did not stop Didier Deschamps’ side from completing a dominant 3-0 win.

Kylian Mbappe was the main star of the match. On his 100th appearance for the France national team, the forward scored twice, finding the net in both halves. Mbappe is now continuing his chase of Lionel Messi in the all-time World Cup scoring race, with the Frenchman just two goals behind the Argentine legend.

Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele added another goal for France. Michael Olise also played a key role in attack, providing two assists.

The game was interrupted for more than an hour after the first half. The reason was the severe weather in Philadelphia, with a strong thunderstorm and heavy rain hitting the area around the stadium. The teams were able to return to the pitch only after an extended delay, but France kept control of the match and calmly finished the job.

The result allowed France to secure an early place in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup. In the final round of the group stage, Didier Deschamps’ team will face Norway.

The victory over Iraq was another clear statement of France’s title ambitions. The team is not only collecting points with confidence, but also showing serious attacking power, with Mbappe, Dembele and Olise forming one of the most dangerous attacking lines of the tournament.