France will look to book their place in the World Cup 2026 round of 32 with a game to spare when they face Iraq in a Group I clash at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday evening.
Les Bleus opened their campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Senegal, while Iraq were comfortably beaten 4-1 by Norway, leaving Didier Deschamps’ side firmly in control of the group standings and heavy favourites heading into this encounter.
Match Preview
France showed both their quality and their occasional defensive vulnerability in their opening win, with Kylian Mbappé once again stealing the headlines. The captain became France’s all-time leading men’s scorer and also surpassed Just Fontaine’s World Cup record, further cementing his status as the focal point of Les Bleus’ attack.
Despite conceding against Senegal, France’s attacking output remains relentless. They have now scored in 14 consecutive matches, finding multiple goals in 13 of those games, a run that underlines the scale of the challenge awaiting Iraq.
A win here would confirm early qualification for the knockout stages, allowing Deschamps to rotate his squad in the final group fixture. Even a draw would leave France in a commanding position, given their goal difference advantage.
Iraq, meanwhile, arrive under pressure after their heavy defeat to Norway. While Aymen Hussein briefly restored parity in that match, defensive lapses proved costly as they were overrun in the second half.
Despite the setback, head coach Graham Arnold insisted there were positives to take, particularly from Iraq’s organisation and energy for large spells of the game. However, their task now becomes significantly more difficult, as another defeat combined with a Norway result elsewhere could effectively end their hopes of progressing automatically.
The Lions of Mesopotamia have never advanced beyond the group stage at a World Cup, and history suggests they face another uphill battle against one of the tournament favourites.
Head-to-Head and Form Guide
This will be the first-ever competitive meeting between France and Iraq, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the contest.
France World Cup form:
W
France form (all competitions):
W W W L W W
Iraq World Cup form:
L
Iraq form (all competitions):
L L W D L L
Team News
France are expected to be close to full strength, with Didier Deschamps likely to make a few adjustments despite the strong start. Lucas Digne could replace Theo Hernández at left-back, while Manu Koné is in contention to feature in midfield.
Bradley Barcola, who made history as one of France’s youngest World Cup scorers since Thierry Henry, is pushing for a start on the left wing after his impact off the bench against Senegal.
Kylian Mbappé will once again lead the line, supported by Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise in a fluid attacking setup.
For Iraq, Ali Jasim has recovered from a minor knock and is expected to feature, while goalkeeper Jalal Hassan faces competition for his place after a difficult outing against Norway.
Aymen Hussein is expected to start again up front despite mixed fortunes in the opener, having both scored and conceded in the same match.
Predicted Lineups
France possible starting XI:
Maignan; Koundé, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Rabiot, Koné; Dembélé, Olise, Barcola; Mbappé
Iraq possible starting XI:
Basil; Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski; Bayesh, Al-Ammari, Iqbal, Ali Jasim; Hussein, Al-Hamadi
Prediction
France’s attacking depth, pace, and technical superiority should be far too much for Iraq to handle, especially given Les Bleus’ consistent scoring form.
Iraq may show moments of resilience, but sustained pressure from Didier Deschamps’ side is likely to break them down over the course of the match.
We say: France 4-0 Iraq
