“The difference came from precision in the final third, not just possession”
France national football team beat Iraq 3-0 in their FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
France started fast. Kylian Mbappé scored in the 14th minute with a powerful strike after a quick assist from Michael Olise. France controlled possession and set the tempo. Iraq struggled to cope with the high press and quick attacks.
France kept pushing and created several chances before halftime. Their movement in the final third caused constant problems for Iraq’s defense.
In the second half, Mbappé scored again to double the lead. Later, Ousmane Dembélé added a third goal to seal the win.
The match faced a long delay due to thunderstorms and lightning. The game stopped for nearly two hours at halftime. France returned strongly after the break and kept control without losing rhythm.
With this result, France kept a perfect group record and secured a place in the knockout stage. They also showed strong depth and consistency across both halves