- France are on a two-match winning streak, scoring three goals in each of those games
- Iraq have lost their last two matches, including a 4-1 defeat to Norway and a defeat to Venezuela
- Kylian Mbappé has two goals in one FIFA World Cup match while Ayman Hussein has scored two of Iraq's last five international goals
Deschamps' France should have too much for Lions of Mesopotamia
France have three points in the bag in second place in FIFA World Cup Group I after beating Senegal 3-1 in their opening game and they should have a lot to say about how far they can go in 2026.
Didier Deschamps is a master tactician that blends pragmatic-positional football with star-led explosiveness.
His team shifts fluidly between a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, maximizing wing play and vertical transitions.
Adrien Rabiot provided an assist for France in their opener and he is the key man in this system as the man who links the defence to the attack. And with Kylian Mbappé in red-hot form, it could be a long night for Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium.
Iraq can score but unlikely to dent France's goal difference
Graham Arnold's Lions of Mesopotamia will try to make this game as difficult as possible for the tournament favourites and they should be full of passion after waiting so long to get back on the world stage.
They will sit deep and wait for the chance to counter, and there could be a chance for Iraq to make an impact. Ayman Hussein was on the mark in their World Cup opener and is their main offensive threat while Amir Al-Ammari, who created some magic in that game, will provide some of the playmaking duties that they will need to get at France.
The game could be a lively one at Philadelphia Stadium, but France should come out on top and take another three points while Iraq get a point on the board. The odds of 1/10 on a France win, however, are enough to put us off that market and both teams to score - Yes is available at 9/5 while Over 2.5 goals is at 8/25.
