On Monday, June 22, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, France delivered a controlled performance against Iraq, winning 3-0 and booking their place in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The evening was marked by a Kylian Mbappé double, Ousmane Dembélé's long-awaited goal, and a historic weather interruption.

An exceptional milestone: Mbappé's 100th cap in the blue shirt

The date will remain etched in the history of French football. This France-Iraq match was Kylian Mbappé's 100th appearance for the France national team. And, as usual, the France captain chose to mark the occasion in his own way: by scoring two goals and guiding his team toward qualification.

At just 27 years old, Mbappé has reached this symbolic milestone with an impressive record: now 16 goals in the World Cup, putting him level with some of the greatest scorers in the competition's history. Ronaldo, Eusébio, Gerd Müller... The France captain has entered their very exclusive circle.

"It is a very strong moment for me. Celebrating my 100th cap by scoring two goals in the World Cup is something I could not have hoped to improve on," Mbappé said after the match.

Match summary: three goals, total control

France quickly took control in this Group I match. Here is how this convincing victory unfolded:

• 14th minute — 1-0, Mbappé: After a fine move down the left, Kylian Mbappé collected the ball and curled a left-footed shot past Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. A classy opening goal to launch his centenary.
• 54th minute — 2-0, Mbappé: Taking advantage of a communication error between Basil and his defence, Mbappé intercepted the ball and finished clinically with his left foot. His second goal of the evening, and his third in this World Cup.
• 3rd goal — Dembélé: Ousmane Dembélé, making his 20th appearance in a major international tournament (World Cups and Euros combined), finally scored his first goal in this type of competition. From a Michael Olise pass, the Paris Saint-Germain forward finished coolly. A real release for him.

Iraq, despite a few attempts in the first half, never truly worried Mike Maignan in the French goal. The 3-0 scoreline accurately reflects France's dominance throughout the match.

A historic event: the first weather interruption in a World Cup

This match will also go down in history for an entirely different reason: it became the first match in World Cup history to be interrupted because of weather conditions. As the second half was about to begin, lightning above the Philadelphia stadium forced the referees to send the players back to the dressing rooms.

The interruption lasted more than two hours, in a strange atmosphere mixing impatience and dismay among the 69,000 spectators in the stands. Some supporters took shelter under the concourses, while others kept singing, refusing to be beaten by the elements.

The decision was unanimously praised by observers: the safety of players and spectators comes before everything else, and FIFA made the right call by suspending play. But the episode also illustrates the huge logistical challenges of this World Cup expanded to 48 teams, played in stadiums spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with very varied climates.

France firmly established at the top of Group I

With two wins from two matches (3-1 against Senegal on June 16, then this 3-0 against Iraq), France are top of their group and qualified for the round of 16 with two matchdays still to play. The record is excellent: 6 points, 6 goals scored, 1 conceded.

Group I is made up of France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway. With this second victory, France can approach the final group match calmly, even if the battle for first place could influence their opponents in the round of 16.

Next appointment: France vs Norway, June 26

France will play their final group match on Friday, June 26 at 9 p.m. against Norway, a team led by striker Erling Haaland, who has also shone during this group stage. It will be the real test of France's strength before the round of 16.

For Didier Deschamps and his staff, this final group match will be an opportunity to:

• Rotate the squad and protect certain key players ahead of the round of 16
• Test the substitutes and give playing time to less-used players
• Confirm first place in the group

The starting line-up against Norway will be eagerly awaited, and there is no doubt that the Mbappé-Haaland clash will be one of the highlights of the evening.

Reasons for France to believe

Although France have sometimes looked fragile in certain phases of play, there are many positive signs as they prepare to enter the knockout stage:

• Mbappé in great form: 3 goals in 2 matches, the captain is involved in everything good.
• A solid collective: Michael Olise was decisive for the 3rd goal, proving the team's depth.
• A reliable defence: Mike Maignan and his back line have conceded only one goal in two matches.
• Dembélé's release: Finally a scorer in a major tournament, the Parisian winger will approach the rest of the competition with renewed confidence.

The 2026 World Cup has all the makings of a tournament built for France to go very far. France, two-time world champions (1998, 2018), hope to claim a third title. The road is still long, but the foundations are solid.

Conclusion: a page of history is written in Philadelphia

France 3-0 Iraq, June 22, 2026: a victory to rank among the great World Cup evenings. Mbappé's centenary, Dembélé's first goal in a major tournament, the first weather interruption in World Cup history... This match stood out far beyond the simple result. See you on June 26 for the next chapter of the French adventure.