France arrives at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup with a formidable lineup. Their squad boasts players like Kylian Mbappe, a Golden Boot winner at the 2022 World Cup and LaLiga’s top scorer with Real Madrid. Ousmane Dembélé holds the Ballon d’Or, and Michael Olise is an elite winger.
Iraq’s head coach, Graham Arnold, knows the challenge that awaits when they face France at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 22. “I asked if we could play three goalkeepers, but they said no,” Arnold jokingly commented during a press conference. He acknowledged France’s skill, yet emphasized his team’s focus on their performance. “We can’t control France’s performance, but we can control our own. Making sure the players are ready to show the world what they’re about is crucial,” Arnold stated.
France, known as Les Bleus, demonstrated their strength with a 3-1 victory over Senegal last week. In that match, Mbappe scored twice, starting his Golden Boot defense. Meanwhile, Iraq is back in the World Cup for the first time in four decades. They began their journey with a 4-1 defeat against Norway, where Manchester City’s Erling Haaland also scored twice.
Currently, France and Norway lead Group I with 3 points each. Iraq and Senegal need results in the upcoming matches to stay competitive in the group stage.
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