*This content was translated by AI.
France, led by the outstanding performance of Kylian Mbappé (28, Real Madrid), easily overpowered Iraq.
On the 23rd (Korea time), France defeated Iraq 3-0 in the second group stage match of Group I of the 2026 FIFA World Cup held at Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
With a second consecutive victory following their win against Senegal in the opening match, France (6 points) has secured their place in the Round of 32. Meanwhile, Iraq has fallen into a two-game losing streak and remains at the bottom of the group.
Mbappé was the top contributor to the victory. He scored the opening goal in the 14th minute of the first half with a sharp left-footed mid-range shot from outside the penalty box.
Weather conditions also became a factor during the match. Heavy rain began falling toward the end of the first half and turned into a thunderstorm by halftime. According to FIFA regulations, matches must be suspended if a thunderstorm is detected within a 12.9 km radius of the stadium. The referees declared a temporary suspension of the game. Both spectators and players sought shelter in the stands and locker rooms. This marked the first weather-related delay in the tournament. Ultimately, the second half did not resume until 8:50 a.m., more than two hours later.
Even amidst the chaotic situation, France's offensive power remained undiminished. In the 9th minute of the second half, Mbappé intercepted a critical passing error by the Iraqi defense and calmly slid the ball into the empty net. Later, in the 21st minute of the second half, Ousmane Dembélé scored the decisive goal.
Mbappé, who scored multiple goals, now has a total of four goals in this tournament, closing the gap to Argentina's Lionel Messi (5 goals), who currently leads the scoring chart, by just one goal. Additionally, Mbappé has increased his all-time World Cup goal tally to 16, tying with Miroslav Klose (Germany) for second place on the all-time scoring list. He trails Messi (18 goals), who holds the top spot, by two goals.
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*This content was translated by AI.
