France will look to secure an early place in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup when they face Iraq in a Group I encounter on Monday, with captain Kylian Mbappe expected to lead the attack once again.
Les Bleus began their campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Senegal, a match that saw Mbappe continue his outstanding goalscoring form. Another victory over Iraq would all but guarantee Didier Deschamps’ side a place in the Round of 32.
Iraq, meanwhile, are under pressure after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opening fixture. Coach Graham Arnold has insisted his team will not adopt an ultra-defensive approach despite facing one of the tournament favourites, saying his players must remain fearless and believe they can compete.
France are expected to field a strong lineup, although Deschamps could make minor changes to keep key players fresh ahead of their final group-stage match. Mbappe is likely to be supported in attack by Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola, while the experienced midfield of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot is expected to control proceedings.
For Iraq, striker Aymen Hussein remains the main attacking threat after scoring against Norway. Winger Ali Jasim has recovered from a minor injury scare and is expected to be available, providing a boost for Arnold’s side.
Football analysts widely favour France to claim all three points, citing the significant gap in quality, squad depth and recent form. However, Iraq will hope to frustrate the European giants and keep their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive with a disciplined performance.
The match is set to take place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the latest round of World Cup group-stage action.
