France vs Iraq: Result, Stats & Predictions (World Cup 2026)
France beat Iraq 3-0 on Mbappé's 100th cap as a weather delay made history. Group I breakdown and LMS pool implications.
23 June 2026
Result
France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia on Monday, though not before the match made history for all the wrong reasons — a lightning storm suspended play for over two hours at halftime, the first weather delay in World Cup history. Kylian Mbappé scored twice, with a fizzing left-footed drive from outside the box in the 14th minute his opener, assisted by Michael Olise. A botched short goal-kick from Iraq led directly to his second, as Dembélé squared it across goal for Mbappé to convert. Ousmane Dembélé added a third late on, also set up by Olise. France are through to the knockout rounds.
What it means for Last Man Standing pools
France were the obvious pick for anyone who hadn't already used them against Senegal. The 3-0 scoreline rewards those who held their nerve — and punishes anyone who thought the weather delay might let Iraq cling to something. The two-hour stoppage was bizarre but ultimately irrelevant: France controlled both halves. If you've still got France banked, the round of 32 is when to seriously consider deploying them. They haven't looked troubled yet.
Pre-match forecasts
France were among the heaviest favourites of the entire group stage, with pre-match market pricing placing them at around 93-94% implied probability of winning. Iraq, playing in just their third World Cup since 1986, had roughly a 3% implied chance of causing an upset. The draw was priced at around 8%. Not a single credible forecast expected anything other than a comfortable France win — the only question before kickoff was the margin. The result matched expectations precisely.
Standout stats
Kylian Mbappé's brace was his 100th international appearance for France — the milestone game could hardly have gone better. He now has 16 career World Cup goals, placing him joint second on the all-time men's list alongside Ronaldo, behind only Lionel Messi's 18. According to Opta data, this was also the sixth time Mbappé has scored at least twice in a single World Cup match — more than any other player in history. France's xG for the match was 2.7 against Iraq's 0.4, per Opta Analyst, suggesting the scoreline was entirely warranted and possibly even kind to a side that barely threatened the French goal at any point.
If you're running a Last Man Standing pool for the World Cup, Matchroom handles the picks and results automatically — free at getmatchroom.app.
Run your own pool — free, in 60 seconds.
No spreadsheets. One link. Everyone picks from their phone.
CREATE A POOL →