World Cup 2026: Mbappé stars as France crush Iraq despite weather chaos
Kylian Mbappé put on a masterclass in Kansas City on Tuesday night as France dismantled Iraq 4-1 in their opening World Cup 2026 group stage fixture, a match that was delayed by nearly 90 minutes after a violent thunderstorm rolled through Arrowhead Stadium and forced both teams back into the locker rooms.
Mbappé makes his mark early
When play finally got underway at 9:47 p.m. local time, France wasted no time. Mbappé opened the scoring in just the sixth minute, latching onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Antoine Griezmann and finishing low past Iraqi goalkeeper Mohammed Hameed with his trademark precision. It’s the kind of goal that makes defenders look ordinary. By the 34th minute, he’d grabbed his second — a thunderous strike from just outside the box that clipped the underside of the bar on its way in.
France were relentless. Ousmane Dembélé added a third before half-time, curling a delicious effort into the top-right corner after a neat one-two with Adrien Rabiot on the edge of the area.
Weather throws tournament into disarray
The weather delay had threatened to overshadow the entire evening. FIFA officials ordered both squads off the pitch at 7:58 p.m. after lightning was detected within eight miles of the stadium, with attendance officially confirmed at 72,344. Fans sheltered under the stadium’s upper concourses for nearly an hour and a half, and there were real concerns the match might be postponed entirely.
It wasn’t. And once the skies cleared, the football was worth the wait — at least if you were wearing blue.
“We always stay ready, whether it’s 10 minutes or two hours,” said a French team official after the final whistle. “The preparation didn’t change. The mindset didn’t change.”
Iraq show fight but it’s not enough
Iraq, competing in just their second-ever World Cup, didn’t simply roll over. Aymen Hussein pulled one back in the 67th minute with a composed header from a corner, briefly stirring the small but vocal contingent of Iraqi supporters in the upper tier. But France responded almost immediately, with substitute Marcus Thuram bundling in a fourth from close range in the 73rd minute to kill any lingering doubt.
Still, Iraq’s manager will take some encouragement. They pressed high for long stretches and created two clear chances in the second half that, on another night, might have changed the scoreline.
France look like serious contenders
This was a statement performance. Mbappé finished with two goals, two key passes, and a 91% pass completion rate. Griezmann, at 35, looked sharp and influential throughout. France’s defensive structure was rarely troubled, with Dayot Upamecano winning every aerial duel he contested.
France next face Denmark on Saturday in Dallas, while Iraq take on Australia in the same city 24 hours earlier. With a squad this deep and a Mbappé this dangerous, the bookmakers will be keeping Les Bleus firmly at the top of their shortlists as the tournament builds toward its July finale.
