France Powers Past Iraq with Mbappé Leading the Charge

Even a nearly four-hour interruption caused by thunderstorms could not slow down Kylian Mbappé as he propelled France to a 3-0 victory over Iraq, securing their place in the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup.

Mbappé wasted no time reaffirming his extraordinary form, netting a fierce left-footed goal in the 14th minute. The match paused for two hours after a heavy rain disrupted play at halftime, yet France returned undeterred. Early in the second half, Mbappé capitalized on a defensive blunder by Iraq to score again, assisted by Ousmane Dembélé. Dembélé then capped off the win with his first World Cup goal, finishing a strong team performance under coach Didier Deschamps.

Mbappé’s Rise in World Cup History

Mbappé now boasts 16 World Cup goals in just as many matches, maintaining an average of a goal per game. This places him alongside Miroslav Klose as the second-highest scorer in tournament history, with only Lionel Messi ahead on 18 goals. Mbappé’s recent performances, featuring multiple braces and a hat-trick in his last three games, suggest it is only a matter of time before he claims the all-time top scorer spot.

France Player Ratings (4-2-3-1 Formation)

Dembélé found the breakthrough he needed, scoring his first-ever World Cup goal and adding an assist in a performance that should ease the pressure on him. Michael Olise stood out creatively, orchestrating attacks and topping the charts for chances created and dribbles completed. Manu Koné proved a capable substitute in midfield during Tchouaméni’s absence, showing grit and control.

Statistics Highlight France’s Control

France dominated the match with 19 shots compared to Iraq’s 4, none of which threatened Maignan. Possession was fairly even at 56% for France, but they controlled the penalty area with 42 touches versus Iraq’s 7. Mbappé alone took 7 shots, more than Iraq’s total attempts, producing an expected goals (xG) of 1.20 compared to Iraq’s 0.60.