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France and Iraq meet for the first time ever on June 22, 2026. The Group I clash takes place at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, with kickoff set for 5:00 PM ET. Both teams enter this match fresh off their opening fixtures, and the result here will shape the race for the knockout rounds.
Below, we break down the form, the team news, and the numbers behind this matchup, then give our score prediction.
Group I Standings After Matchday 1
Norway and France currently lead Group I after the first round of matches. Iraq and Senegal sit at the bottom, so both teams badly need points soon.
| Position | Team | Played | Points | Goal Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 1 | 3 | +3 |
| 2 | France | 1 | 3 | +2 |
| 3 | Senegal | 1 | 0 | -2 |
| 4 | Iraq | 1 | 0 | -3 |
A win for France here would push Les Bleus to six points. That result would put them on the brink of a Round of 32 spot before their final group game.
Credit: CBS Sports
France Form and Team News
France opened the tournament with a 3-1 win over Senegal. The match started slowly, but coach Didier Deschamps adjusted his attacking shape at halftime, swapping the positions of Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise. The change paid off, since Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Bradley Barcola added a third late on.
Beyond the World Cup opener, France enter this game with strong momentum. They have won four of their last five matches overall, with the only defeat coming against Ivory Coast in a June 4 friendly. Their other recent results include wins over Northern Ireland, Colombia, and Brazil.
Mbappé is also closing in on a personal milestone. He is set to earn his 100th cap for France against Iraq. He already holds the record as France’s all-time top scorer with 58 international goals, and his brace against Senegal moved him to 14 World Cup goals, which ties him for fourth on the all-time list.
Pick Your Prediction
Get your final predictions in before kickoff! Good luck!
Iraq Form and Team News
Iraq’s tournament got off to a tough start. They lost 4-1 to Norway in their opener, with Erling Haaland scoring twice. Aymen Hussein did pull one back for Iraq with a header, marking only the second World Cup goal in the nation’s history and their first in 40 years.
Iraq’s recent form away from the World Cup has been mixed. Across their last five matches, they have two wins, one draw, and two losses. Their most recent warm-up game ended in a 2-0 defeat to Venezuela, although they also held Spain to a 1-1 draw earlier in June.
Manager Graham Arnold knows the scale of the challenge ahead. He previously faced Mbappé while in charge of Australia at the 2022 World Cup, a match France won comfortably. Up front, Iraq will lean on Aymen Hussein, who scored 12 goals during their AFC qualifying campaign, twice as many as any of his teammates.
Head-to-Head Record
This fixture marks the first official meeting between France and Iraq. With no prior matches to draw from, both sides will rely purely on current form and squad quality rather than history.
Predicted Lineups
Here is how both teams are expected to line up for this Group I match.
| France (4-2-3-1) | Iraq (4-4-2) |
|---|---|
| Mike Maignan (GK) | Ahmed Basil Fadhil (GK) |
| Jules Koundé | Hussein Ali |
| Dayot Upamecano | Zaid Tahseen |
| William Saliba | Akam Hashem |
| Lucas Digne | Merchas Doski |
| Kouadio Koné | Ibrahim Bayesh |
| Adrien Rabiot | Zidane Iqbal |
| Michael Olise | Amir Al-Ammari |
| Ousmane Dembélé | Ali Jasim |
| Bradley Barcola | Aymen Hussein |
| Kylian Mbappé | Ali Al Hamadi |
Key Players to Watch
A few names stand out heading into this match. Mbappé remains the obvious focus for France, since he is both in red-hot scoring form and approaching his 100th international cap. Michael Olise also deserves attention. His assist against Senegal was his tenth goal contribution in just 18 appearances for France, a pace matched only by Mbappé this century.
For Iraq, Aymen Hussein is the player most likely to trouble France’s defense. He has scored consistently throughout qualifying and already has a World Cup goal to his name this summer. Goalkeeper Ahmed Basil Fadhil will also need a big performance if Iraq hope to stay competitive against France’s attack.
Team Comparison
| Category | France | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| World Cup appearances | 16th | 1st since 1986 |
| Opening match result | Won 3-1 vs Senegal | Lost 1-4 vs Norway |
| Recent form (last 5) | 4W, 1L | 2W, 1D, 2L |
| Key goal threat | Kylian Mbappé (14 WC goals) | Aymen Hussein (1 WC goal) |
| Coach | Didier Deschamps | Graham Arnold |
Match Prediction
France goes into this game as the clear favorite. Their attack looked sharp for large parts of the second half against Senegal, and Mbappé’s form suggests he will keep finding the net. Iraq, on the other hand, struggled defensively against Norway and conceded from individual mistakes as well as set pieces.
Based on the form and quality on each side, France should control possession and create the better chances throughout the match. Iraq will likely sit deeper and look to hit France on the counter, similar to their approach against Norway, but their backline may not hold up for the full 90 minutes against this level of attacking talent.
Predicted score: France 3-0 Iraq
Expect Mbappé to feature on the scoresheet again, with France’s wide players also playing a key role in breaking down Iraq’s defense.
Disclaimer: This prediction is for informational and entertainment purposes only. While thoroughly researched, football is unpredictable, and outcomes are never guaranteed. If wagering, please do so responsibly and at your own risk.
