France Cruises Past Iraq as Mbappé Nears World Cup Scoring Record

Under stormy skies and a nearly four-hour delay, France secured a 3-0 victory against Iraq, advancing to the knockout phase of the 2026 World Cup. Despite the weather interruptions, the French side never lost momentum.

Kylian Mbappé quickly reminded everyone of his top form by scoring a powerful left-footed goal just 14 minutes into the match. The first half was then disrupted by heavy rain, halting play for two hours at halftime. When action resumed, Mbappé capitalized on a defensive mistake to complete his brace early in the second half. Ousmane Dembélé added an assist for Mbappé's second goal and later scored his first World Cup goal, sealing the win.

Mbappé Chasing the Greatest Goalscorer Title

With 16 World Cup goals now, Mbappé matches Miroslav Klose as the second highest scorer in tournament history. He is just two goals behind Lionel Messi, who also scored twice in his recent game, raising his tally to 18. The race between Mbappé and Messi continues to captivate fans, but Mbappé’s consistent output suggests he might soon claim the top spot alone.

Ousmane Dembélé finally broke through with his first World Cup goal after 13 appearances, also assisting another. His performance could ease some pressure off him moving forward.

Michael Olise stood out as France’s main creative hub, particularly impressive playing centrally. With three assists in two games, he leads chance creation and dribbles completed. While Mbappé grabs headlines, Olise drives much of the team's attacking flair.

Manu Koné filled the gap left by the injured Aurélien Tchouaméni admirably, dominating midfield battles and proving his value as a reliable replacement over the likes of N’Golo Kanté in Deschamps’ plans.

Key Match Statistics

France dominated chances inside the box with 42 touches compared to Iraq’s seven. Mbappé alone had seven shots, surpassing the total attempts Iraq managed. The goalkeeper Mike Maignan was never seriously tested.