France vs Iraq: Mbappe and the Champions Face a Team on the Brink
France are 2-time world champions and one of the favorites to win the whole thing, and Kylian Mbappe scored twice in their opening win.
Iraq are 58th in the FIFA rankings and lost their first game 1-4, so another defeat would almost certainly knock them out.
This is a giant against a team fighting to survive in Group I.
Predictions
France are overwhelming favorites, and nearly every expert sees the champions winning comfortably, with Mbappe likely to score again.
The bigger question is how many France will score against a shaky Iraq defense.
- Our prediction: France win 3-0, with Mbappe among the goals again.
- OneFootball: a big France win, the class gap too wide.
- Juvefc: a France win that puts them top of the group.
- DraftKings: a comfortable, high-scoring France win.
Why this game matters so much
This is a heavyweight against a team on the brink, because France have already won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018.
They are 3rd in the FIFA rankings and one of the names everyone tips to win the whole thing in 2026.
Their superstar is Kylian Mbappe, and he wasted no time making his mark at this tournament.
He scored twice in their opener, a 3-1 win over Senegal.
That result means France can take a giant step toward the next round if they win again here.
Across from them, Iraq arrive with the season already feeling like it could slip away.
They sit 58th in the FIFA rankings, and their World Cup got off to a brutal start.
That was a 1-4 loss to Norway, so another defeat would end their tournament hopes.
There is a fun twist too: Iraq are coached by Graham Arnold, the Australian who guided Australia into the knockout rounds at the last World Cup.
Why France are the favorites
France have one of the deepest, most talented squads on show in 2026, and it shows everywhere on the pitch.
Their captain and forward Mbappe can run past a whole defense in seconds and finish without breaking stride.
He has plenty of help, with the forward Ousmane Dembele tormenting defenders out wide and Aurelien Tchouameni controlling the middle of the pitch.
Coach Didier Deschamps has been here before, having lifted the trophy as a player in 1998 and as a coach in 2018.
That experience means France rarely panic, even when a game gets tight.
The bookmakers see no contest at all, giving France about a 90% chance to win.
An Iraq win is priced at around 30 to 1, which tells you just how big the gap is on paper.
Where is the hope for Iraq?
Iraq know they are the big underdogs, but they still have reasons to believe.
Their coach Graham Arnold knows exactly what a World Cup shock feels like, since he pulled one off with Australia not long ago.
Up front, the forward Mohanad Ali can punish any team that switches off for even a second.
Behind him, Ali Al-Hamadi runs hard all game and Zidane Iqbal tries to spark something in midfield.
If Iraq stay compact and frustrate France early, the doubts could start to creep in for the favorites.
And against a giant like France, sometimes one good half is enough to give an underdog real belief.
Beating a 2-time champion would be one of the proudest nights in Iraqi football.
Our call: France 3-0
We are going with a 3-0 France win.
France simply have far too much quality across the team, and over 90 minutes that usually decides it.
Iraq also looked shaky at the back when they shipped 4 goals to Norway, and France will smell that weakness.
We expect Mbappe and his teammates to get an early goal and then keep adding to it.
Iraq will fight, but holding this attack out for a full game is a brutal ask.
Once France are ahead, their quality should turn it into a comfortable evening.
What is at stake?
After the first round of games in Group I, France and Norway both sit on 3 points from a win each.
Senegal and Iraq both lost, so they are stuck on 0 points and already playing catch-up.
The way it works: the 2 teams with the most points in the group go through to the next round, and a few of the best 3rd-place teams from across the tournament sneak in as well.
So a second France win would put them in pole position to reach the knockout rounds with a game still to play.
For Iraq, the math is harsh, because a loss here would leave them almost certainly out before their final group game.
That is why one side plays with freedom and the other plays for its World Cup life.
Where and when can you watch?
The game is on Monday June 22, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
Kickoff is 17:00 (5:00 PM) Eastern time.
You can also find all the details on the match page.
Hoping to watch it live in the stands? Have a look at our World Cup tickets guide.
Common questions
When and where is France vs Iraq?
It kicks off on Monday June 22, 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia at 17:00 (5:00 PM) Eastern time.
Why does this game matter so much?
France are chasing a third World Cup title, and after winning their opener they can almost book a place in the next round with a victory here. Iraq are in the opposite spot, because they lost their first game badly and a second defeat would leave them needing a near-miracle. So one team is hunting for top spot while the other is fighting to survive.
Who are France's key players to watch?
Captain Kylian Mbappe (number 10) plays up front, and he is one of the fastest, most dangerous attackers on the planet. Ousmane Dembele (number 7) is another forward who can beat a defender and set up a goal with a moment of skill. Marcus Thuram (number 9) is a strong, physical striker, while Aurelien Tchouameni (number 8) controls the midfield and protects the defenders behind him.
Who are Iraq's key players to watch?
Mohanad Ali (number 10) is the forward Iraq look to for goals, and he carries most of their attacking hopes. Up alongside him, Ali Al-Hamadi (number 9) is a busy striker who chases everything and battles defenders all game. Zidane Iqbal (number 14) is a clever midfielder who tries to keep the ball moving, and the defender Hussein Ali (number 3) has the tough job of slowing France down.
Are France the favorites?
Yes, and by a massive amount. The bookmakers give France about a 90% chance to win, a draw is a long shot at roughly 10 to 1, and an Iraq win is priced at around 30 to 1. With Mbappe in this kind of form, most experts expect a comfortable, high-scoring France win.
What does France winning Group I mean?
The 2 best teams in each group move on, plus some of the strongest teams that finish 3rd across all the groups. France already have 3 points, so 3 more would put them in great shape to reach the knockout rounds with a game left. Iraq, on 0 points after their opening loss, really need a result here to keep any hope alive.
Sources
- OneFootball: France vs Iraq prediction
- Juvefc: France v Iraq predictions
- DraftKings: opening odds for France vs Iraq
Sources checked 06/20/2026