World Cup 2026: Mbappé brace fires France past Iraq 3-0

Mbappé doubles up as France close out Group I

France beat Iraq 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia to finish their World Cup 2026 group stage on a high note. Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Ousmane Dembélé added a third, capping a performance that matched the underlying numbers almost exactly.

The data told the story. France posted 2.67 expected goals (xG = the quality of chances created) to Iraq's 0.63, and created five big chances to Iraq's one. Even more telling: France put five shots on target, while Iraq managed zero across the full 90 minutes. France controlled the ball with 56% possession and racked up 197 passes into the final third, against just 34 for Iraq.

With the win, France top Group I on nine points from three matches, a goal difference of plus-eight, and have already clinched a place in the Round of 32. Iraq finish bottom on zero points and are out of the group stage.

How both sides lined up in Philadelphia

From Mbappé's 14th-minute opener to Dembélé's finish

Iraq's afternoon got complicated early. Amir Al-Ammari picked up a yellow card in the sixth minute, and just eight minutes later Mbappé struck. Michael Olise teed him up for the opener, and France were ahead inside the opening quarter-hour.

Iraq made an early adjustment, sending on Ali Al-Hamadi for Aymen Hussein around the half-hour mark as they tried to find a foothold. It didn't change the pattern. Shortly after the break, Mbappé doubled the lead in the 54th minute, this time finished off a Dembélé assist.

The third arrived in the 66th minute, with the roles reversed: Olise again provided the pass, and Dembélé tucked it away for his first World Cup goal. From there it became a substitution exercise for both sides, with France rotating Rayan Cherki, Désiré Doue, Maghnes Akliouche, Malo Gusto and Marcus Thuram into the action and Iraq freshening up across the second half. Mbappé made way for Thuram in the 91st minute, his job done.

The Bleus call was right; the scoreline nearly nailed it

There was a clear consensus across the futbol.so community heading into this one, and it leaned firmly toward France. The most-picked scoreline was a 4-0 French win — one goal richer than reality, but the right idea in every other respect.

The breakdown by country leaned the same way without quite matching the result. Fans in Argentina landed on the exact 3-0, while predictions from Colombia favoured France in a 1-1 draw and from Spain a 2-1 French win. The official forecast had France as overwhelming favourites and pointed to a 3-0 result — and that's precisely how it played out.

Video highlights

Résumé : FRANCE – IRAK, MBAPPÉ EN FEU, un FESTIVAL pour les BLEUS ?

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Francia vs Irak (3-0) | Resumen y goles | Highlights Copa Mundial de la FIFA 2026™

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Kylian Mbappé SCORES TWICE In France's 3-0 Win Over Iraq

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France Train Before Iraq | FIFA World Cup 2026™

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HIGHLIGHTS - France v Iraq | Storm Causes HUGE Disruption! | FIFA World Cup 2026

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Reaction to Kylian Mbappe’s brace in France’s win vs. Iraq | ESPN FC

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MBAPPÉ formato super, si sblocca DEMBELÉ: Francia-Iraq 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | DAZN Highlights

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France 🆚 Iraq #FIFAWorldCupOnYT #shorts #fifaworldcup

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World Cup: France vs Iraq

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World Cup: France vs Iraq

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World Cup: France vs Iraq

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World Cup: France vs Iraq

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A controlled, clinical day at the office for France, who finish Group I as winners and carry real momentum into the knockout rounds. Mbappé's sharpness and Dembélé finally getting off the mark are exactly the storylines a contender wants before the Round of 32.

For Iraq, the group campaign ends here. Attention now turns to who France will meet in the next stage as the bracket takes shape.