Arab teams at 2026 World Cup: Algeria wins over Jordan while Iraq concedes against France

PHILADELPHIA: Jordan failed to secure a win in its second World Cup game in California against Algeria on Tuesday.
After dominating the first half of the game with a goal by Nizar Al Rashdan in minute 36, Jordan conceded two goals to Algeria.
With one game left, Jordan is set to face off reigning champions Argentina and Algeria is set to play Austria on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Kylian Mbappe scored his second brace in as many matches as France eased ‌into the last 32 with a 3-0 victory over Iraq on Monday in the first match of this World Cup beset by a lengthy weather stoppage.
The goals for Mbappe, in his 100th cap, came nearly three hours apart after thunderstorms ​in the region delayed the second-half kickoff by approximately two hours.
“The first half was good,” French manager Didier Deschamps said. “In the second half, we picked up where we left off, bearing in mind that it wasn’t easy given what happened, and we managed to put the game beyond reach.

That’s a very good thing.”
Mbappe now sits on 16 all-time World Cup goals, pulling level with the former record-holder, Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Earlier on Monday, Lionel Messi set a new benchmark of 18 World Cup goals with a brace in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria.
Mbappe’s four goals also put him one behind Messi in the Golden Boot ‌race.
Reigning Ballon d’Or ‌winner Ousmane Dembele also scored after halftime for two-time champions France, ​who ‌will ⁠face Norway ​on ⁠Saturday with the Group I title on the line.