France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia, a win wedged around a two-hour weather delay that still booked Les Bleus a place in the World Cup's last 32 with a group game to spare. Kylian Mbappé scored both of his goals on a landmark night, his 100th cap for the national team.
France did the early running and barely let Iraq breathe. The opener came midway through the first half, Mbappé teeing himself up before lashing a rasping effort from 22 yards that gave the goalkeeper no chance. One goal up, total control, and the rest of the half played out at a canter.
Then the weather had other ideas. With the interval approaching, severe storm warnings rolled over the stadium and officials sent both teams down the tunnel. Play sat suspended for roughly two hours while lightning passed through the area. When the players finally re-emerged, France picked up where they left off. In the 54th minute, Iraq made a hash of a short goal-kick deep in their own half, Dembélé pounced and squared, and Mbappé rolled in his second from close range. Two goals on his 100th cap for France, and another notch in a Golden Boot race.
Dembélé scored the third in the 66th minute. From there, France took their foot off the gas and saw the night out, with Iraq unable to lay a glove on a defence that was rarely troubled.
Mbappé said the landmark was bigger because it came in a World Cup match. "It's a pride to get this 100th cap in a World Cup match, and to score two goals, it's perfect," he said.
Ousmane Dembélé also praised the forward after another clear World Cup win. "The criticism towards him is very, very unfair," Dembélé said. "Some people overdo the criticism because he's Kylian Mbappe. They shouldn't keep going after him. Whether he ties his shoelaces or not, whether he pulls up his socks or not... it's too much. He's still a human being. With the France team, he's very good with us, he's a leader."
The result extended France's tournament run and kept Mbappé on pace among the World Cup's leading scorers. With 16 goals in total at a World Cup, he is two behind Lionel Messi's total of 18, and leveled Miroslav Klose's record.
Six points from two games leaves France sitting at the top of Group I and already through to the knockout rounds. Iraq, by contrast, are left with a mountain to climb and little margin left. They will play against Senegal on Friday. The same day, France close out the group stage against Norway on Friday, a fixture in which both Mbappe and Haaland can take the lead in the race for the Golden Boot.
