France vs Iraq LIVE: Kylian Mbappe reaches major milestone in World Cup clash

Kylian Mbappe is set to win his 100th cap for France as the forward and his side seek more World Cup success against Iraq.

Mbappe continued his remarkable record at the tournament with a double in France’s opening game against Senegal, and is relishing the chance to battle with Lionel Messi for the golden boot. The fortunes of the team will, though, be his primary focus as he prepares to bring up a century of international appearances at the age of 27 in a fixture that France will be expected to win well.

Iraq showed, however, a resilience against Norway to suggest they could pose problems. Though eventually well beaten 4-1, they fought back to level after Erling Haaland’s opener and manager Graham Arnold has promised that his team intend to take the game to the opposition again.

Follow all of the latest from the Group I clash with our live blog below:

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France vs Iraq LIVE

• France face Iraq in World Cup Group I | Live on BBC with kick off at 10pm BST
• Kylian Mbappe set to win 100th cap as he chases more World Cup success
• Mbappe's double helped 2018 winners to opening victory against Senegal
• Iraq beaten 4-1 in opener by Norway but have promised attacking approach
• France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Barcola; Mbappe
• Iraq XI: Basil; Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski; Al Ammari, Ismaeel; Bayesh, Iqbal, Qasem; Hussein.

Efficiency - not the name of the game

For all of Messi and Mbappe’s brilliance, there have been a couple of more efficient performers so far...

Most clinical #FIFAWC2026 players as per fewest touches per goal 😎, >90 minutes (@impect_official)
🥇 #ErlingHaaland 🇳🇴 & #BrianBrobbey 🇳🇱 8.5 ❗️#Senegal is warned 🚧 #NORSEN#Undav 🇩🇪 #Musa 🇭🇷 #Larin 🇨🇦 #Mbappe 🇫🇷 #Kane 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #David 🇨🇦 #Ueda 🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/q6IF2pQ037

— CIES Football Obs (@CIES_Football) June 22, 2026

Golden boot standings

World Cup golden boot standings

1. Lionel Messi (Argentina), 5 goals

2. Deniz Undav (Germany), 3 goals (2 assists)

3. Jonathan David (Canada), 3 goals

= 4. Vinicius Jr (Brazil), 2 goals (1 assist)

= 4. Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), 2 goals (1 assist)

= 4. Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands), 2 goals (1 assist)

= 4. Mikel Oyarzabal (Spain), 2 goals (1 assist)

= 4. Maximiliano Araujo (Uruguay), 2 goals (1 assist)

= 4. Ayase Ueda (Japan), 2 goals (1 assist)

= 9. Harry Kane (England), 2 goals

= 9. Matheus Cunha (Brazil), 2 goals

= 9. Erling Haaland (Norway), 2 goals

= 9. Yasin Ayari (Sweden), 2 goals

= 9. Elijah Just (New Zealand), 2 goals

= 9. Kai Havertz (Germany), 2 goals

= 9. Kylian Mbappe (France), 2 goals

= 9. Johan Manzambi (Switzerland), 2 goals

= 9. Cyle Larin (Canada), 2 goals

= 9. Ismael Saibari (Morocco), 2 goals

= 9. Folarin Balogun (USA), 2 goals

= 9. Brian Brobbey (Netherlands), 2 goals

Iraq team news confirmed

Iraq XI: Basil; Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski; Al Ammari, Ismaeel; Bayesh, Iqbal, Qasem; Hussein.

Subs: Talib, Hassan, Al Hamadi, Ali, Al Reeshawee, Amyn, Farij, Jasim, Putros, Saadoon, Sher, Sulaka, Yakob, Younis, Yousif.

France XI is near full strength

Reaction to the France team news from Chris Wilson, who’s in place at the Philadelphia Stadium...

Didier Deschamps has clearly not decided to take it easy on Iraq this evening, with the France boss naming an almost full-strength side for tonight’s game.

The big news is that Kylian Mbappe will get his 100th international cap, and he’ll be supported by the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele and Bayern star Michael Olise once again.

Bradley Barcola is rewarded for his goal against Senegal with a place in the starting line-up as Desire Doue drops out, while Theo Hernandez and Aurélien Tchouaméni are the only other changes – Manu Kone and Lucas Digne come in for that duo.

Line-ups

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Olise, Dembele, Barcola; Mbappe

Subs: Risser, Samba, Gusto, Hernandez. Hernandez, Konate, Lacroix, Kante, Tchouameni, Zaire-Emery, Cherki, Doue, Akliouche, Mateta, Thuram

Notre XI de départ pour défier l’Irak 🇫🇷🔥

Rendez-vous à 23h00 pour notre deuxième match de Coupe du Monde, en direct sur M6 et beIN SPORTS 1 ⚽️📺

🇫🇷🇮🇶 #FRAIRQ | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/MnpzDevS8b

— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) June 22, 2026

The old school trait turning Mbappe into Monsieur World Cup

There is something old-fashioned about a player defined by the World Cup. Kylian Mbappe can seem a face of sleek modernity, but perhaps he is a throwback footballer. The World Cup is his stage; perhaps no footballer for decades can say that to the same extent.

As Mbappe claimed France’s goalscoring record, and advanced past Pele and Just Fontaine’s totals in World Cups to draw level with Gerd Muller, Didier Deschamps talked of the global audience. Mbappe, he said, did not want to pass Olivier Giroud’s tally for Les Bleus in a friendly. He did it instead against Senegal in the World Cup, in the world’s most famous city. He can prosper when the eyes of the footballing planet are on one match, and one alone. And, in an ever more crowded fixture list, that is rarely the case. Mbappe started this tournament with a very different double of high class. “In this match with a global audience, he has a real aura,” noted Deschamps.

His aura, unlike his peers’, comes from such days. Some of the legends of earlier generations were defined more by World Cups. Santos and Napoli fans may disagree but Pele and Diego Maradona were. Paolo Rossi, Mario Kempes and Fontaine too. For audiences outside South America, Garrincha and Jairzinho were always going to be. For those outside England, Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst are.

The old school trait turning Kylian Mbappe into Monsieur World Cup

The controversial midfielder enabling Mbappe to shine

It has not always been easy for a neutral observer to get behind Adrien Rabiot, whose dependency on the pitch has been repeatedly concealed by a curious, maddening penchant for irritating coaches, clubs and team-mates as much as opponents.

Yet if France are to reach an unprecedented third straight final, and wrest back the trophy from Argentina’s grasp, Didier Deschamps needs his team’s maligned midfield mainstay to keep pursuing what seems a neverending path to proving critics wrong.

The controversial France midfielder enabling Mbappe to shine at World Cup

Flying France

A look at what France’s players got up to on their flight to Philadelphia for this match. Wonder what the combined screen time is for a player who wins the World Cup.

✈️ Travel from 𝑩𝒐𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒏 ➡️ 𝑷𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒍𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒂 with Les Bleus 💙 pic.twitter.com/nAJ257MgJo

— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) June 22, 2026

Tonight's referee ...

... is Canada’s Drew Fischer, who is officiating at a first World Cup.

He has been to two Club World Cup’s previously.

Storm warning

Fans are not being left into the stadium yet owing to storms in the area.

But there is no indication yet around whether it may impact kick-off time.

Injury watch

William Saliba said he was playing through “gritted teeth” after a long and gruelling season, but France should be able to call on the Arsenal star as well as Theo Hernandez, Malo Gusto and Dayot Upamecano, who have been wrapped in cotton wool to ensure they are fully fit.

Iraq’s Ali Jasim was withdrawn against Norway due to a knock but has shaken it off in training this week.

The weak link theory that will decide who wins the World Cup

While Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and co draw inevitable focus, there is an argument that this tournament will be won by the 11th name on the teamsheet.

Every team has flaws, including France, but Richard Jolly assesses the least weakest link for all the top contenders.

The weak link theory that will decide who wins the World Cup

Mbappe eyes more milestones

Kylian Mbappé became France's all-time top scorer in their 3-1 win over Senegal (58 goals), overtaking Olivier Giroud (57).

He could add to that tonight against Iraq, and assuming he plays, Mbappé will also earn his 100th cap for Les Bleus. pic.twitter.com/XGBd6IsB0t

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) June 22, 2026

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Predicted teams

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Rabiot, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe

Iraq XI: Basil; Ali, Tahseen, Hashem, Doski; Bayesh, Al-Ammari, Iqbal, Ali Jasim; Hussein, Al-Hamadi

France vs Iraq LIVE: Welcome!

Kylian Mbappe is set to win his 100th cap for France as the forward and his side seek more World Cup success against Iraq.

Mbappe continued his remarkable record at the tournament with a double in France’s opening game against Senegal, and is relishing the chance to battle with Lionel Messi for the golden boot. The fortunes of the team will, though, be his primary focus as he prepares to bring up a century of international appearances at the age of 27 in a fixture that France will be expected to win well.

Iraq showed, however, a resilience against Norway to suggest they could pose problems. Though eventually well beaten 4-1, they fought back to level after Erling Haaland’s opener and manager Graham Arnold has promised that his team intend to take the game to the opposition again.

Follow all of the latest from the Group I clash with our live blog, right here.