Can Kylian Mbappé make history as he joins France’s centurions club? Look ahead to this Group I clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with our France vs Iraq prediction and preview.
France vs Iraq: The Key Insights
France are regarded as heavy favourites to win this match, coming out on top in 88.1% of the Opta supercomputer’s 25,000 simulations. Iraq have lost all four of their previous FIFA World Cup matches and could become the very first Asian nation to suffer defeat in each of their opening five games across the tournament’s history. France are seeking to win both of their opening two matches at a World Cup for the fourth successive edition – having done so in just one of their previous 13 appearances in the competition (1998).France play Iraq at Philadelphia Stadium on Monday and it could be a momentous occasion for Michael Olise; Dembélé had started the game in a No. 10 role with Olise on the right wing, but Deschamps swapped them around to great effect.
Go Deeper:
World CupKylian Mbappé Will Take the Headlines, But Michael Olise Was the Genius Behind France’s Win
4 days ago Ali TweedaleMany would consider Olise to be a superior playmaker, and France’s threat in-behind increased with the Bayern Munich star playing in the hole and ready to pick out the runs of Mbappé. Indeed, it was Olise’s assist for Mbappé that saw France take the lead midway through the second half.
Olise’s assist was his 10th goal involvement (7 goals, 3 assists) for France in just 18 appearances; only Mbappé (17) has reached the milestone faster for Les Bleus in the 21st century. Meanwhile, a goal or assist against Iraq would see him directly contribute to a goal in three successive outings for the very first time for France.
Victory for France in this match would see them win both of their opening two matches at a World Cup for the fourth successive edition, having done so in just one of their previous 13 appearances in the competition (1998).
Don’t put it past Deschamps to make a few changes to his forward line. He only made two substitutions against Senegal, and none until the 80th minute when Dembélé was replaced by Désiré Doué with three minutes of normal time remaining, and despite a fairly quiet cameo, he will feel his club performances last season for Manchester City deserve a start against what is likely to be a much lower block than the one Senegal enforced.
It will be a tough day for Iraq, irrespective of who plays for France. They held their own initially against Norway before suffering a 4-1 defeat on MD1. The vast difference in quality quickly became evident, and Erling Haaland cashed in with a brace.
Iraq have lost all four of their previous World Cup matches, and could become the very first Asian nation to suffer defeat in each of their opening five games across the tournament’s history.
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