France secured qualification for the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a game to spare after defeating Iraq 3-0 in a weather-disrupted Group I encounter in Philadelphia.
Led by another clinical performance from captain Kylian Mbappe, Didier Deschamps’ side maintained their perfect start to the tournament and booked their place in the last 32 after opening the campaign with victory over Senegal.
The match, however, was far from routine.
Severe weather conditions in the Philadelphia area forced officials to suspend play at half-time, resulting in an unprecedented two-hour delay as players and supporters remained under shelter due to concerns over lightning and storms.
Before the interruption, France had already taken control.
Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a powerful strike from outside the area, continuing his impressive form and once again showing why he remains one of the world’s most dangerous attackers.
France dominated possession and controlled the tempo throughout the opening half, limiting Iraq’s opportunities while creating chances through quick movement and sharp attacking play.
When the game eventually resumed after the lengthy stoppage, France wasted little time in putting the contest beyond reach.
Mbappe struck again in the 54th minute after capitalising on a costly defensive error, completing his brace and taking his tournament tally to four goals.
The French captain’s latest performance also moved him closer in the race among the World Cup’s greatest goalscorers.
There was another memorable moment for France when Ousmane Dembele finally ended his long wait for a goal at a major international tournament.
The winger found the net in the 66th minute after being set up by Michael Olise, marking his first goal across appearances at both the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.
Iraq battled throughout but struggled to contain France’s attacking quality and were unable to create enough opportunities to trouble the former world champions.
The victory moves France onto six points from two matches and places them in a strong position to finish top of Group I.
France will now face Norway in their final group fixture, with both teams already through and set to battle for first place in the group.