Mbappe shines with 2 goals as France beat Iraq to book place in World Cup Round of 32

DUBAI: France beat Iraq 3-0 at the Philadelphia Stadium to go top of Group I and secure their place in the Round of 32 at the 2026 World Cup.

Les Bleus are certain of a top-two finish in the group after claiming a maximum of six points from their first two matches, the first of which resulted in a 3-1 victory over Senegal. Iraq remain bottom on zero points after also losing their first game, a 4-1 defeat by Norway, with their slim hopes of progress to the knockout stages hanging by a thread.

Hours earlier, Lionel Messi had become the sole all-time World Cup top scorer on 18 goals, after grabbing both strikes in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria. However, Kylian Mbappe, who was on 14 goals heading into Monday’s game, started the match as if he was determined to make major inroads into Messi’s total by the end of the night.

With less than two minutes on the clock, the French captain almost got on the end of Manu Kone’s scuffed shot. It wasn’t to be, but France did not have to wait much longer to take the lead.

Iraq’s veteran keeper, Jamal Hassan, had been dropped from the starting 11 after his misadventures against Norway, and his replacement, Ahmed Basil, and his defense had their work cut out for them as they faced a rampant forward line of Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele and Michael Olise.

Sure enough, after just 14 minutes Mbappe, making his 100th appearance for his country, struck a stunning left shot beyond the Basil’s reach to give France what had seemed like the inevitable lead.

With the French looking dangerous on every attack, the hydration break offered a timely intervention, and brief respite, for Iraq. Unfortunately for them it also signaled the departure of star striker Aymen Hussein through injury, to be