PHILADELPHIA, JOURNALARTA.COM – A first-half goal from Kylian Mbappe was enough for France to beat Iraq 1-0 in the opening Group B match of the 2026 World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, on Tuesday (6/23/2026) early WIB. The first three points put Les Bleus near the top of the group alongside Norway.
The impact was immediate in the standings. France now share the Group B summit with Norway, both on three points. Their Matchday 2 meeting has already turned into a decisive clash for first place. Iraq, meanwhile, must respond quickly and need a win against Senegal if they want to stay in contention through the route for the eight best third-placed teams in the 48-team format.
Mbappe Makes the Difference
Didier Deschamps’ 4-2-3-1 setup pressed Iraq from the opening whistle. Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Bradley Barcola kept moving across the front line, forcing Iraq’s defense to work hard from the first minutes.
France’s winning goal came in the first half. Les Bleus captain Mbappe finished off his team’s dominance, scoring the only goal despite France recording just one shot on target over 90 minutes. Efficient. Effective.
Iraq tried to answer with counterattacks in a similar 4-2-3-1 formation. It went nowhere. They did not record a single shot on target all game.
Overwhelming Numbers
The match statistics told a clearer story than the final score.
| Stat | France | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 79% | 21% |
| Shots on Target | 1 | 0 |
| Total Shots | 1 | 0 |
| Shots Blocked | 1 | 0 |
| Accurate Passes | 95% | 67% |
| Yellow Cards | 0 | 0 |
Seventy-nine percent possession. That’s almost unusual at World Cup level. France controlled the match rather than merely winning it.
Center-back pair William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano stayed compact. Iraq grew frustrated because they rarely found space in the final third of France’s defense. In the second half, Deschamps chose a safer approach, while Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot controlled the tempo in midfield to make sure Iraq could not build momentum.
Group B Standings
| Pos | Team | Pts | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norway | 3 | +3 |
| 2 | France | 3 | +1 |
| 3 | Iraq | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Senegal | 0 | -2 |
Norway leads on goal difference after also winning on Matchday 1. France sit right behind them.
Up Next: France vs Norway
The Matchday 2 meeting between France and Norway is now effectively a Group B final. The winner is almost certain to advance as group champion and gain an advantage in the knockout bracket.
For Iraq, the situation is difficult but not over. The 48-team 2026 World Cup format gives eight best third-placed teams from across the groups a path to the next round. That means even one win could become a lifeline if results elsewhere break their way.
Deschamps did not say much about tactics after the match. One thing is clear: the three points from Philadelphia are an important psychological boost before France face Norway, a tougher and more open battle.
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