PHILADELPHIA: France cruised into the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a commanding 3-0 victory over Iraq in their Group I clash.
The match, played at a stadium in Philadelphia, saw France dominate proceedings from the outset. Star forward opened the scoring in the 14th minute, capitalizing on an early opportunity to give his side the lead.
Despite efforts from Iraq to level the score, they struggled to break through France’s solid defense. Weather disruptions briefly halted the game, as heavy rain delayed the start of the second half by over two hours.
Upon resumption, Mbappé struck again in the 54th minute, taking his overall World Cup tally to 16 goals and equaling the record of Germany’s legendary striker .
France extended their lead in the 66th minute when found the net, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 win.
