FIFA World Cup 2026

World Cup Preview: France vs Iraq, Predictions

The 2026 World Cup continue in the second round of group fixtures with France facing Iraq.

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The 2026 World Cup continue in the second round of group fixtures with France facing Iraq. The mandate for France is clear, to qualify to the knockout stages with minimum fuss. Not all hope is lost for Iraq but facing the strongest contenders, it’s unlikely that they’ll extend their stay for the fourth game.  

France 

France is in a formidable form, especially after cruising nicely with most wins in their last games. The Blues World Cup campaign started with a 3-1 victory against Senegal. In their friendly matches leading to this tournament, they did well with Ireland but suffered a loss to Ivory Coast.  

With their star forward, Kylian Mbappe, they have been playing winning games and smoothly so. The team’s manager Didier Deschamps has a fully fit squad, with the return of defender Malo Gusto after suffering a minor ankle injury during training.  

It is expected that Deschamps might make small changes here and there, to keep the players fresh. Mbappe will lead the attach because of his amazing form after scoring two goals in their opening against Senegal.  

Iraq  

Iraq has had a rough start in the World Cup after their 4 – 1 defeat against Norway. Their friendly matches have also brought tough results, especially when they lost 2 – 0 defeat against Venezuela and a tough draw with Spain.  

The team lost their last three games and will need a massive turnaround to advance. The star winger Ali Jasim suffered a painful neck injury during their tough match against Norway. The team’s manager, Graham Arnold, confirmed that he is fully recovered and is now ready to play.  

As expected, the team is not planning to just sit back and defend, but they are looking to put the ball in front of the net. Iraq needs to win this game to keep their World Cup dream alive.  

What’s at stake 

Things aren’t looking good for Iraq after facing Erling Haaland, but with their competitive and tactical strategy, they did their best in that match. If Iraq loses against France, they could face early elimination.  

A defeat will make things tough for them, but with the 48-team format, they might finish third. To remain in contention, there’s a lot of factors to consider like relying on goal difference and other match outcomes within their group. On this match, Iraq needs to win.  

The odds favours France to advance to the next stage. If they fail to claim their decisive win against Iraq, it will make their final group match a high-pressure scenario. If France wins this game, they will most possibly qualify for the next round.  

Reaching six points will guarantee their progression to the knockout stages. Whether they win or lose, they still stand a good chance at progressing to the next stage.  

Players to watch 

Mbappé remains the driving force behind France’s dangerous attack. A well-known and trustworthy goal scorer, who scored twice in the opening match, and he’ll be eager to add to his record in this match. 

He is also in the race for the World Cup Golden Boot and is closing in on the tournament’s all-time scoring record.

With 14 World Cup goals already to his name, he is just two behind Lionel Messi, who recently matched Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 16 goals. If Mbappé continues his impressive scoring form, history could soon be within reach. 

  • Michael Olise – France

While Mbappé often grabs the headlines, Michael Olise has quickly become one of France’s most influential players. The Bayern Munich star was named Man of the Match in France’s opening World Cup victory over Senegal, where his creativity and vision helped unlock the opposition defence and set up key chances for his teammates. 

With a keen eye for creating opportunities, Olise has emerged as the perfect partner for Mbappé in attack. Against Iraq, Olise’s creativity could once again prove decisive.

If he is given time and space on the ball, expect the French playmaker to be at the heart of France’s attacking moves and potentially add another assist to his growing World Cup record. 

Verdict

France possesses too much quality, depth and attacking firepower for an Iraqi side that struggled defensively in their opening match. With Mbappé in red-hot form and France looking to secure qualification for the knockout stages, expect Deschamps’ men to dominate possession, create plenty of chances, and cruise to a comfortable victory. Mbappé is backed to score again and could even grab another brace. 

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