Official lineups
France: Maignan - Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne - Koné, Rabiot - Dembélé, Olise, Barcola - Mbappé.
Iraq: Basil - Ali, Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski - Bayesh, Al-Ammari, Iqbal, Jasim - Hussein, Al-Hamadi.
Les Bleus arrive at World Cup 2026 as one of the tournament's supreme favourites, seeking to win a third world title and cement their status among football's elite nations. Didier Deschamps' side opened Group I with a dominant 3-1 victory over Senegal, demonstrating the attacking prowess that makes them genuine title contenders. Now facing Iraq in their second group match, a win would mathematically secure their passage to the last 32.
Iraq, meanwhile, are in desperate need of points after opening their Group I campaign with defeat. The Iraqis face an uphill battle against a France side already brimming with confidence and tournament experience. Yet in football, as today's weather chaos in Philadelphia suggests, nothing is ever entirely predictable. An unexpected violent thunderstorm could delay kick-off at an undetermined time. Under US safety regulations, the match cannot resume until 30 minutes have passed without lightning detected within 13 kilometres.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)
