Competition – FIFA World Cup 2026
Group I, Matchday 2: Monday, June 22, 2026
KO: Midnight
Venue – Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Why France vs Iraq match matters
France has, after match day one, lived up to the billing of the favourites tag after leaving it late to sweep Senegal 3-1, but is second on the Group I table after Norway thrashed Iraq to assume leadership of the pool on account of a better goal difference.
France will go out here against an Iraq side that is just returning to the big table of the FIFA World Cup after 40 years since their debut in 1986, where they lost all games. If Denmark pumped four, then a far more star-studded French team should surpass that to avoid pressure in their final group game versus Denmark.
Read our World Cup predictions here: WORLD CUP OUTRIGHT PREDICTIONS
France arrived in Philadelphia having done the hard part of their opening assignment, if not in the manner many expected. Didier Deschamps’ side were subdued for over an hour by a resilient Senegal that strangely allowed Les Blues only one shot the whole first half before their star Kylian Mbappe rose to the occasion with a second-half brace that turned the fortunes for the two-time champions. Clinical second-half intervention turned a tense, scoreless contest into a comfortable 3-1 victory. The performance, while not vintage France, demonstrated exactly the kind of squad depth and individual brilliance that make Les Bleus among the favourites to win this tournament, and Mbappé’s stoppage-time strike that made him France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 goals added historic weight to an already significant occasion.
Iraq’s extraordinary journey: No team endured a longer or more difficult road to this World Cup than Iraq. Their qualification campaign stretched across 21 matches and 867 days, culminating in a dramatic intercontinental playoff win over Bolivia in Mexico. Several Iraqi players were held and questioned for hours by US immigration officials upon arrival for the tournament. This is Iraq’s first World Cup appearance since 1986, played amid genuine national emotion after four decades of waiting.
Iraq’s tournament got off to the cruellest possible start in Boston, racing to parity against Norway through Aymen Hussein’s bullet header before two further moments of individual error gifted Erling Haaland and Norway control of the match en route to a 4-1 defeat. Graham Arnold’s side competed bravely for long stretches and created several promising opportunities, but the gulf in quality and the unforgiving nature of facing a player like Haaland were ultimately too much to overcome. Facing France next, a side with arguably even greater individual talent across the pitch, represents an even sterner examination for a squad appearing at the World Cup for the first time in 40 years.
France’s recent form: W-W-L-W-W
France’s last five matches
- 16.06.2026 – France 3-1 Senegal
- 08.06.2026 – France 3-1 Northern Ireland
- 04.06.2026 – France 1-2 Ivory Coast
- 29.03.2026 – Colombia 1-3 France
- 26.03.2026 – Brazil 1-2 France
Goals scored – 12
Goals conceded – 5
Key
France is in good form coming to this game with four wins out of their last five matches, including the international build-up. Their win over France wasn’t exactly dominant, as the result reads, but what matters here is the final score. But it is important to note that Senegal managed them for almost an hour. What is evident is that France has the attacking power to cause havoc after scoring 12 goals and conceding only five. They have scored exactly three goals in five matches and beat Brazil 2-1 in that run.
Iraq’s recent form: L-L-D-W-W
Iraq last five matches
- 17.06.2026 – Iraq 1-4 Norway
- 10.06.2026 – Iraq 0-2 Venezuela
- 04.06.2026 – Spain 1-1 Iraq
- 29.05.2026 – Iraq 1-0 Andorra
- 01.04.2026 – Iraq 2-1 Bolivia
Key
Iraq managed only two wins in their last five games, which came against Andorra and Bolivia. They also sprung a surprise 1-1 draw against Spain that lacked several of their top cream before losing to Venezuela in their final preparations. However, all that was wrapped up with a rude 4-1 initiation by Norway in the first game of the tournament.
France and Iraq head-to-head record
France and Iraq have never met in an official international match in recent records; therefore, this meeting opens a new chapter.
Team News
France
Injuries and rotation: No injury or suspension concerns are listed for the French squad ahead of this fixture. Deschamps is expected to manage Mbappé’s overall tournament workload carefully given his recent injury history, though his importance to the team and current scoring form make a reduced role unlikely against an opponent of Iraq’s level. Rotation across other positions, including possible starts for Marcus Thuram or Bradley Barcola, remains a genuine possibility given the manageable nature of this fixture.
Key players: Kylian Mbappe is the main man for France after his two goals against Senegal took him above Olivier Giroud as France’s record scorer with 58 goals. The double also took his FIFA World Cup tally to 14 goals, two behind Lionel Messi and German legend Miroslav Klose, who now jointly hold the record of 16 goals.
Ousmane Dembele is the best player in the world and brings in more attacking flair on the opposite wing as he partners Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.
Can Kylian Mbappe win the World Cup Golden Boot?
READ HERE – World Cup Top Goalscorer Predictions
Iraq team news
No injury or suspension concerns have been confirmed for Iraq ahead of this fixture.
Key players: Aymen Hussein is Iraq’s primary goal threat and the fifth-highest scorer in the national team’s history, having scored the decisive goal in the playoff win over Bolivia that sent Iraq to this World Cup, and also finding the net against Norway in the opener.
France predicted lineup: Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde – William Saliba – Dayot Upamecano – Theo Hernandez; Aurelien Tchouameni – Adrien Rabiot; Michael Olise – Ousmane Dembele – Desire Doue; Kylian Mbappe.
Iraq predicted lineup: Jalal Hassan; Zaid Tahseen – Akam Hashim – Rebin Sulaka – Manaf Yousif; Amir Al-Ammari – Ali Jasim – Ibrahim Bayesh – Ali Al Hamadi; Aymen Hussein – Hussein Ali.
Best Betting Markets for France vs Iraq
Match winner – France to win with handicap
Total goals – Over 2.5
Both teams to score – Yes
Anytime goalscorer – Kylian Mbappe
Best bet – France to Win & Over 2.5 Goals
Correct score prediction – France 4–1 Iraq
Where to Bet on France vs Iraq
Visit Afropari Uganda to bet on France vs Iraq
