PHILADELPHIA: Kylian Mbappe scored twice and Ousmane Dembele added a goal as France defeated Iraq 3-0 on Monday to secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage in a match disrupted by a lengthy weather delay.
Mbappe struck in each half on his 100th international appearance, helping France claim a second consecutive victory in Group I and move into the last 32.
The match was interrupted by severe thunderstorms at halftime, delaying the restart by nearly two hours before play resumed in Philadelphia.
France took the lead in the 14th minute when Mbappe received a pass from Michael Olise and unleashed a powerful strike from outside the penalty area beyond Iraqi goalkeeper Ahmed Basil.
After the extended delay, Iraq’s hopes of a comeback were dented by a defensive error in the 54th minute. A miscommunication during a goal kick allowed Dembele to set up Mbappe for a simple finish and his second goal of the match.
Dembele added a third goal 12 minutes later, controlling another incisive pass from Olise before finishing clinically past Basil.
The victory leaves France level on six points with Norway, who defeated Senegal 3-2 earlier on Monday. The two sides will meet on Saturday to determine the Group I winner.
Mbappe’s brace took his World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing level with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose. The France captain has now scored four goals at the 2026 tournament and trails Argentina captain Lionel Messi by one in the Golden Boot race.
For Iraq, the defeat leaves qualification hopes hanging by a thread. They remain in contention for one of the tournament’s third-place qualification spots but will likely need a victory over Senegal in their final group match and favorable results elsewhere.
The match marked the first World Cup fixture of the tournament to be significantly affected by weather, with spectators instructed to seek shelter as heavy storms passed over the stadium. Players returned to the field nearly two hours later after officials cleared standing water from the pitch.