Kylian Mbappe registered his second consecutive brace as France secured back-to-back victories at the 2026 World Cup, dispatching Iraq 3-0 on Monday evening in Philadelphia. The match was interrupted by a two-hour storm delay, yet Didier Deschamps’ side ultimately showed enough quality to advance comfortably through Group I and book their place in the round of 32.
The result carries added significance in the context of the Golden Boot race. Earlier in the evening, Lionel Messi had netted twice against Austria, extending his overall tournament tally to 18 goals. Mbappe responded in kind, keeping the gap at just one goal and maintaining the pressure on his former Paris Saint-Germain team-mate heading into the knockout stages.
Beyond Mbappe’s exploits, the evening belonged to Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele, who combined to devastating effect in the second half. Dembele marked the occasion with his first ever goal at a World Cup, while Olise was the creative force behind two of France’s three strikes. Our editorial team ranks all eleven starters from the Group I encounter below.
Mbappe Dominates the Golden Boot Race
Kylian Mbappe opened the scoring with a thumping effort from the edge of the penalty area, demonstrating the kind of clinical finishing that has made him one of the most feared forwards in world football. The strike was a statement of intent — powerful, precise, and leaving the Iraqi goalkeeper with no chance.
France’s second goal arrived in the 54th minute under somewhat fortunate circumstances. Iraq’s goalkeeper made a catastrophic error with a short goal-kick, gifting possession directly to Dembele, who unselfishly squared the ball for Mbappe to tap in from close range. It was the sort of opportunism that separates elite strikers from the rest.
Mbappe came close to completing a hat-trick in the closing stages but was denied on this occasion. He departed the field to a standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd, having once again demonstrated why he remains the central figure in France’s World Cup ambitions. With Messi still one goal ahead in the Golden Boot standings, the race between the two superstars promises to be one of the defining storylines of the tournament.
Olise and Dembele Combine to Devastating Effect
Michael Olise was arguably the most influential player on the pitch across the full 90 minutes, even if his final rating of 8/10 only partially captures his contribution. His first assist — a simple, first-time ball played back to Mbappe on the corner of the Iraqi box — may have appeared straightforward, but his second was a thing of genuine beauty: a perfectly weighted through-ball that split the Iraqi defence and sent Dembele clear on goal.
Olise also came agonisingly close to a goal of his own when his delicate, dinked effort struck the crossbar. It was the kind of performance that underlines why the Real Madrid winger has become such an integral part of Deschamps’ attacking setup.
Ousmane Dembele had endured a frustrating wait for his first goal at a major international tournament, but the wait finally ended in the 66th minute. After showing sharp anticipation to intercept a misplaced Iraqi pass and set up Mbappe’s second, Dembele capped his evening with a composed finish after being released by Olise. It was a landmark moment for the Ballon d’Or winner, who had previously gone without a goal at a World Cup.
Bradley Barcola offered flashes of his considerable pace and technical ability down the left flank, but the Paris Saint-Germain winger was unable to translate his promise into a tangible end product. On a night when his attacking colleagues excelled, it was a relatively quiet evening for the young forward.
Midfield Provides the Platform
Manu Kone stepped into the starting lineup in place of the suspended Aurelien Tchouameni and acquitted himself well in the holding role. The midfielder was a consistent presence in disrupting Iraqi attacks, combining physical strength with intelligent positional awareness to repeatedly win back possession in central areas.
Adrien Rabiot complemented Kone effectively, producing a near-flawless passing display that helped France maintain control of the tempo throughout the match. The AC Milan midfielder also came close to adding his name to the scoresheet with a well-directed header shortly after the hour mark, though the effort narrowly missed its target.
Defensive Solidity with One Moment of Concern
Mike Maignan had an evening to forget in the best possible sense — the AC Milan goalkeeper was barely called upon throughout the entire match, a testament to how comfortably France controlled proceedings against a limited Iraqi attack.
Dayot Upamecano was equally untroubled at the heart of the defence, gliding through the game with the assurance of a player operating well within his capabilities. Jules Kounde was more adventurous, driving forward at every opportunity despite committing a couple of defensive errors that, on another night, might have been more costly.
William Saliba endured the one genuine moment of anxiety for the French backline when he completely lost track of Ali Al-Hamadi inside the penalty area. The Iraqi striker was unable to make the most of the opening, however, and Saliba was fortunate to escape without conceding. Lucas Digne provided reliable support on the left flank, assisting Barcola’s runs forward while also doing well to close down Al-Hamadi after Saliba’s lapse.
What Comes Next for Les Bleus
France’s victory over Iraq confirmed their progression to the round of 32 with a game to spare, setting up a group decider against Erling Haaland’s Norway on Friday. Deschamps will have the luxury of rotating his squad for that encounter, knowing that qualification is already secured.
The bigger picture, however, remains the Golden Boot race. With Messi and Mbappe separated by a single goal heading into the knockout rounds, the rivalry between the two generational talents adds an extra layer of intrigue to what is already shaping up to be a memorable 2026 World Cup.
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