Mbappé scores twice as France defeats Iraq to advance in World Cup

Kylian Mbappé celebrated his 100th international appearance with a brace, leading France to a commanding 3-0 victory over Iraq in their second group stage match of the 2026 World Cup. The win guarantees France's progression to the round of 32, extending their perfect record in the tournament.

Mbappé, the recipient of the last World Cup's Golden Boot, opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a long-range shot assisted by Michael Olise. This goal was particularly significant as it marked his second consecutive brace in the tournament and placed him atop the all-time scoring list for the French national team. His second goal came in the 54th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error by Iraq's Zaid Tahseen. This brought his World Cup tally to 16 goals, equaling German legend Miroslav Klose and setting his sights on Lionel Messi's record.

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He opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a long-range shot assisted by Michael Olise.

The match, delayed by two hours due to heavy rain in Philadelphia, saw Ousmane Dembélé score his first World Cup goal in the 66th minute, assisted by Olise, to seal the 3-0 win. Both Dembélé and Olise were substituted later in the game, while Mbappé's attempts for a hat-trick in the final minutes were unsuccessful.

For Iraq, this defeat marks their second consecutive loss in the tournament, following their initial 1-4 defeat to Norway. Their elimination from the World Cup means they will not advance past the group stage, having returned to the tournament finals after a 40-year absence.

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This brought his World Cup tally to 16 goals, equaling German legend Miroslav Klose and setting his sights on Lionel Messi's record.