The 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup sees France arriving with an outstanding lineup. Kylian Mbappe, acclaimed for clinching the Golden Boot in 2022, continues his dominance in football. He also recently won his second consecutive Pichichi Trophy with Real Madrid, emerging as LaLiga’s top scorer. Add to that Ousmane Dembélé, the current Ballon d’Or winner, along with the exceptional talent of Michael Olise. These players highlight France’s depth and strength.
Iraq’s head coach, Graham Arnold, understands the challenge ahead as his team prepares to face France at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday, June 22. At a press conference on Sunday, Arnold humorously noted, “I asked if we could play three goalkeepers, but they said no.” He acknowledged France’s talent, stating, “Look, they’ve got some incredible players, and it’s an honor.”
Yet, Arnold emphasizes Iraq’s focus on their own performance, explaining, “We will go out, and we will play—we’re focused on ourselves.” Stressing the importance of preparation, he added, “It’s making sure that the players are completely ready to go out there and show the world what they’re about, and that’s the most important thing.”
France, known fondly as Les Bleus, demonstrated their potential to reach a third consecutive World Cup final by defeating Senegal 3-1 in their opening match. Mbappe contributed significantly, securing a brace to maintain his Golden Boot run. Contrastingly, Iraq, participating in the World Cup after a 40-year absence, started with a 4-1 defeat against Norway. Manchester City’s Erling Haaland was instrumental in that match, scoring two goals against Iraq’s defense, indicating Iraq’s need for improvement before facing Mbappe and his teammates.
As Group I stands, both France and Norway have 3 points, while Iraq and Senegal are keen to gain ground in their next matches.
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