France will look to secure qualification for the Round of 32 when they face Iraq in a key Group I clash of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on June 22. Didier Deschamps’ side enter the contest with momentum after defeating Senegal in their opening match, while Iraq are under pressure following a heavy loss to Norway.
The match carries significant implications for both teams. A victory would guarantee France a place in the knockout stages, whereas Iraq need a positive result to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
France Eye Early Qualification
France began their campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal, powered by a brilliant performance from captain Kylian Mbappe.
The Real Madrid star scored twice to become France’s all-time leading men’s international goalscorer with 58 goals, surpassing previous records and further strengthening his legacy with the national team.
Deschamps’ side displayed their attacking quality throughout the match and will be confident of extending their unbeaten run against an Iraq team that struggled defensively in its opening fixture.
Iraq Face Must-Win Situation
Iraq endured a difficult start to the tournament, suffering a 4-1 defeat against Norway. The result left Graham Arnold’s men with little room for error heading into their second group-stage encounter.
Another defeat would effectively end Iraq’s chances of progressing to the knockout rounds, making this a virtual do-or-die contest for the Asian side.
The Iraqis will need a much-improved defensive display while also finding a way to contain one of the most dangerous attacking units in international football.
France vs Iraq: Match Details
Match: France vs Iraq
Tournament: FIFA World Cup 2026 – Group I
Date: June 22 (June 23 IST)
Time: 2:30 AM IST
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium
Referee
The match will be officiated by Drew Fischer.
Head-to-Head Record
This will be the first-ever international meeting between France and Iraq.
Recent Form
France: W-W-L-W-W
Iraq: L-L-D-W-L
France Squad
Goalkeepers
Mike Maignan, Robin Risser, Brice Samba
Defenders
Lucas Digne, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, Ibrahima Konate, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano
Midfielders
N’Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot, Aurelien Tchouameni, Warren Zaire-Emery
Forwards
Maghnes Akliouche, Bradley Barcola, Rayan Cherki, Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, Marcus Thuram
Predicted France XI
Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, Lucas Digne; Adrien Rabiot, Manu Kone; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe
Coach: Didier Deschamps
Iraq Squad
Goalkeepers
Ahmed Basil, Jalal Hassan, Fahad Talib
Defenders
Hussein Ali, Merchas Doski, Akam Hashem, Frans Putros, Mustafa Saadoon, Rebin Sulaka, Zaid Tahseen, Ahmed Maknazi, Manaf Younis
Midfielders
Amir Al Ammari, Youssef Amyn, Ibrahim Bayesh, Marko Farji, Zidane Iqbal, Zaid Ismail, Ali Jassim, Ahmed Qasim, Aimar Sher, Kevin Yakob
Forwards
Mohanad Ali, Aymen Hussein, Ali Al Hamadi, Ali Yousef
Predicted Iraq XI
Ahmed Basil; Hussein Ali, Zaid Tahseen, Akam Hashem, Merchas Doski; Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Zidane Iqbal, Ali Jassim; Aymen Hussein, Ali Al-Hamadi
Coach: Graham Arnold
Players To Watch
Kylian Mbappe (France)
Mbappe arrives in outstanding form after scoring twice against Senegal. The French captain now has 58 international goals and recently became France’s all-time leading men’s goalscorer.
The 27-year-old has scored five goals across his last two World Cup appearances and currently sits on 14 World Cup goals overall. He is rapidly closing in on some of the competition’s greatest scoring records and remains France’s biggest attacking threat.
Amir Al Ammari (Iraq)
Midfielder Amir Al Ammari will play a crucial role if Iraq are to challenge France. His ability to control possession, dictate tempo and connect midfield with attack will be vital against a French side expected to dominate the ball.
Iraq’s hopes of causing an upset may depend heavily on Al Ammari’s influence in the middle of the park.
Live Telecast Details
The France vs Iraq FIFA World Cup 2026 match will be broadcast live in India on:
- Unite8 Sports 1
- Unite8 Sports 1 HD
- Unite8 Sports 2
- Unite8 Sports 2 HD
Live Streaming Details
The match will be streamed live on the ZEE5 app and website in multiple languages, including:
- English
- Hindi
- Malayalam
- Bangla
Match Outlook
France enter the contest as overwhelming favourites thanks to their superior squad depth, attacking firepower and recent form. With qualification within reach, Deschamps’ men will be eager to avoid complications and secure a second consecutive victory.
For Iraq, the challenge is enormous. However, with elimination looming, Graham Arnold’s side will be motivated to produce their best performance of the tournament and keep their World Cup dream alive.
All eyes will once again be on Kylian Mbappe as France look to take another step towards World Cup glory.