France flexed their muscles in emphatic fashion on Monday night, brushing aside Iraq 3-0 in a Group I encounter at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
The French side seized control from the opening whistle and rarely loosened their grip, with Kylian Mbappe leading the charge through a clinical brace, while Ousmane Dembele added the icing on the cake with a goal of his own.
Although severe weather briefly threw a spanner in the works and forced a lengthy stoppage before the second half, France returned from the interruption with the same intensity and purpose that had defined their first-half display.
Les Bleus drew first blood in the 14th minute when Michael Olise threaded a clever pass into Mbappe’s path at the edge of the box. The French skipper wasted no time, unleashing a thunderous left-footed effort that flew beyond the reach of the Iraqi goalkeeper.
Iraq found themselves chasing shadows for large spells of the contest as France’s fluid movement and blistering pace continually stretched their defensive line. The pressure was evident early on when Amir Al Ammari received the game’s first yellow card in the sixth minute after halting Mbappe during a threatening run toward goal.
After the weather-enforced delay, France picked up where they left off and doubled their advantage nine minutes into the second half. Dembele capitalised on a defensive lapse and unselfishly squared the ball to Mbappe, who calmly rolled it into an unguarded net to register his second goal of the evening.
With the wind firmly in their sails, the French continued to dictate proceedings and struck again in the 66th minute. Olise, who was pulling the strings in midfield, surged forward before delivering a perfectly weighted pass to Dembele. The winger brought the ball under control and expertly guided his finish into the far corner to make it 3-0.
The goal capped a sparkling outing for both Dembele and Olise, whose creativity and sharp decision-making repeatedly opened cracks in the Iraqi backline. Together, they proved to be the engine room behind France’s attacking dominance.
To their credit, Iraq refused to throw in the towel and looked for openings on the counterattack. However, France’s defence stood firm, shutting every door and ensuring their opponents never gained a foothold in the contest.
The convincing victory strengthens France’s standing in Group I and serves as another reminder of the firepower at their disposal. Mbappe’s two-goal masterclass stole the spotlight, while Olise’s pair of assists and Dembele’s goal-and-assist contribution underlined the depth and quality running through the French squad.
