France Beats Iraq 3-0 in 2026 World Cup, Marching Toward Third Title

France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a 2026 World Cup group stage match. With Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise leading the charge, France took a confident step toward its third World Cup trophy.

Scraper SystemJune 23, 2026, 09:05 AM

France Beats Iraq 3-0 in 2026 World Cup, Marching Toward Third Title

France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a 2026 World Cup group stage match, advancing toward a third World Cup title. The French team, managed by Didier Deschamps, delivered an effective performance spearheaded by the trio of Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise.

Mbappé's opener

Kylian Mbappé put France ahead 1-0 in the 14th minute, firing a powerful left-footed shot from outside the penalty area off a pass from Michael Olise. The goal marked the second time in Mbappé's last three goals that he has scored from outside the box.

Olise's creativity

Michael Olise stood out as the creative playmaker of the match. The Bayern Munich player recorded two assists, becoming only the third French footballer in the 21st century to provide two assists in a single World Cup match.

Dembélé's first major tournament goal

Ousmane Dembélé scored in the 66th minute, finishing a clever pass from Olise to register his first goal in a major international tournament, across both the World Cup and the European Championship. Four of Dembélé's five assists for France have been for Mbappé.

Iraq's struggle

Iraq, managed by Graham Arnold, took to the field in a defensive 4-5-1 formation. However, Aymen Hussein's injury-enforced exit in the 26th minute weakened the team's ball retention and attacking capacity. Iraq failed to register a single shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

France's pressure

France deployed a high-pressing and rapid attacking spread strategy under Deschamps. With the three forwards given freedom of movement, the team seized control of the game from the outset. Nine of France's 15 goals in 2026 have been scored by this attacking trio.

Despite the weather conditions

The match was halted for approximately two hours at the end of the first half due to a severe storm in Philadelphia. The lengthy delay, however, did not disrupt the French team's rhythm or pressure. Mbappé scored his second goal just nine minutes after play resumed.

Result and statistics

With this victory, Iraq became the first Asian team in World Cup history to lose its first five matches in the tournament. France is presenting a more balanced and mature image as it pursues a third World Cup title.

France Beats Iraq 3-0 in 2026 World Cup, Marching Toward Third Title

France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a 2026 World Cup group stage match. With Mbappé, Dembélé and Olise leading the charge, France took a confident step toward its third World Cup trophy.