World football’s powerhouse France and one of Asia’s strongest sides, Iraq, are set to meet in a high-voltage ‘Group I’ match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match kicks off at 3 a.m. Bangladesh time at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. After two contrasting experiences in their opening matches, the game has become hugely significant for both sides.
In their first match, Didier Deschamps’ France struggled somewhat in the first half against the strong African side Senegal but produced a superb second-half turnaround, beginning their World Cup campaign with an impressive 3-1 win, as the FIFA ranking’s second-best team. The main attraction of that match was the French captain, Kylian Mbappe. Scoring twice, the star forward set a new record of 58 international goals, the highest in French football history. To secure their place in the knockout round quickly, France may again take the field in a 4-3-3 formation, with Mbappe’s devastating attack alongside Olise and Barcola.
For Iraq, known as the ‘Lions of Mesopotamia,’ on the other hand, it is a fight to stay alive in the tournament. They are under considerable pressure after a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway in their first match. Even in that big loss, the only relief for Iraq, ranked 60th, was a consolation goal from star striker Aymen Hussein. To stop France’s strong attack, Iraq’s defence will have to be far better organised in this match. The coach is expected to set up the team in a defensive 4-5-1 shape, mainly trying to score on the counterattack.
France and Iraq have never met before on the World Cup stage. But Iraq carry the confidence of a 1-1 draw with former world champions such as Spain in a pre-World Cup warm-up. Although France are clearly ahead on paper and in recent form, an Iraq side with their backs to the wall are ready to give the French a tough test in Philadelphia.
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