Mbappé's 59th goal gives France early lead vs Iraq

France opened their second 2026 World Cup group match against Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday, June 22, with Kylian Mbappé netting his 59th goal for Les Bleus within the first fifteen minutes to give the hosts an early lead. A win would see France progress to the knockout stage. Mbappé's strike came from the left foot outside the sixteen‑yard box, and the newly‑appointed Iraqi goalkeeper was unable to prevent the goal. The French forward now has 59 goals for the national side and 15 in World Cup finals, a tally matched only by Lionel Messi, Miroslav Klose and Brazil’s Ronaldo, while he is 27 years old. The match also marked Mbappé’s 100th cap for France, making him the tenth and youngest player ever to reach that milestone. Goalkeeper Hugo Lloris extended his own record to 145 appearances, the most in French history. Coach Didier Deschamps altered three positions, moving Lucas Digne onto the left back in place of Théo Hernandez. Midfield saw Manu Koné of Roma replace Aurélien Tchouaméni alongside Paul Rabiot, while forward Barcola’s PSG teammate Doué was relegated to the bench.

France set to face Iraq with Barcola in and Doué on bench

Within a minute of entering, Koné received a diagonal ball and attempted a weak shot that drifted harmlessly wide. His eagerness underscored the midfield’s intent to press early despite the early lead. A severe storm threatened to delay the 23:00 CET (17:00 local) kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field, but the weather cleared in time for the match to start. Philadelphia’s forecast had warned of heavy rain and thunder during the evening.

French fans show Xavier Dupont de Ligonnès banner in Philadelphia

FIFA rules require a half‑hour suspension if lightning is detected within 15 kilometres of the pitch, with play resuming only after a half‑hour without strikes. At the previous World Cup for clubs in the United States, a thunderstorm halted the Benfica‑Chelsea game for more than two hours. With the early advantage, France now aim to secure the three points needed to guarantee progression to the next round. Iraq, making their first official encounter with France, will look to respond and keep their hopes alive.