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France overcame a weather delay of more than two hours to dismantle Iraq in Philadelphia, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice to close the gap on Lionel Messi in the World Cup’s all-time scoring charts.
Pre-tournament fears that storms could wreak havoc on the competition’s schedule were realised at Lincoln Financial Field, where heavy rain began to fall towards the end of the first half.
With France leading 1-0 at the break, supporters were urged to take shelter due to the incoming storm. It then took more than two hours for conditions to be deemed safe enough for the game to resume.
The delay did little to destabilise France and Mbappé, though. On his 100th appearance for his country, Mbappé opened the scoring with a thunderous left-footed strike in the 14th minute.
The Real Madrid striker then added another goal shortly after the match restarted, when a mix-up in the Iraq defence resulted in him being gifted a simple tap-in.
Mbappé’s goals came after Messi, his former team-mate at Paris St-Germain, had scored twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas. Those goals were Messi’s 17th and 18th in the World Cup, which made him the record goalscorer in the competition.
Mbappé is evidently keen to chase down Messi in the all-time scoring charts, with his strikes against Iraq taking him to 16 overall. At 27, Mbappé is 11 years younger than Messi.
Also on the scoresheet for France was PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé, who produced an accurate finish after a fabulous pass by fellow attacker Michael Olise. Using the outside of his left foot, Olise sliced open the Iraq defence in the 66th minute.
The strict weather protocols in the United States are not controlled by Fifa, but by local authorities. The recommendation from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is that matches must be paused if a lightning strike is detected within eight miles of a stadium.
The vast majority of the supporters who had bought tickets for the match chose to remain at Lincoln Financial Field during the delay.
Despite the best efforts of ground staff in Philadelphia, the second half kicked off with plenty of water on the playing surface. The second ‘hydration break’, which has been one of the more controversial features of this tournament, was abandoned on this occasion.
Iraq had finished the second half relatively strongly and were keeping the French attackers quiet, but they were unable to replicate this form after the lengthy delay. An indication of the physical challenges posed by the delay could be seen when Iraq’s substitute striker, the Ipswich Town forward Ali Al-Hamadi, appeared to suffer from cramp in the 75th minute.
01:59am
France and Mbappe make their way
Mbappe and France were barely troubled, but they were not special either.
We are yet to see them face a true test. The game against Norway on Friday could tell us more.
Thank you for reading tonight, but after 14 hours of half-time, that is all for tonight.
01:56am
France through to knockouts
France were 3-0 winners against Iraq on Monday night in a game that took more than three hours to complete.
There were warnings before the match for spectators to stay away from the stadium due to heavy downpours and the threat of storms, which would return to haunt the match at half-time.
Kylian Mbappe grabbed two goals for the French team, the first after 11 minutes, but Didier Deschamps’ men were unable to press home their advantage in the first half.
That period ended 1-0 in favour of France, but a thunderstorm with lightning erupted shortly before the players left the pitch for the interval. Due to local rules, the game was then postponed by at least 30 minutes, but ultimately the match did not restart for a couple of hours as organisers waited for a safe time to restart.
It took fewer than 10 minutes for Mbappe to get his second in the following half, with Ousmane Dembele teeing him up after a defensive mistake from an Iraq goal kick.
On 64 minutes, Dembele finally struck after excellent work from Michael Olise to score his first goal at a major tournament.
For France, the three points means that they are certain to go through to the knockout rounds, but they are not yet sure of topping the group ahead of their final match against Norway on Friday, 26 June.
Iraq remain pointless, but have the chance to score their first win in the tournament in their final group game against Senegal, also on Friday.
01:49am
Full time: France 3 Iraq 0
The referee whistles for the end of the match. One-sided, but not a drubbing. Iraq played as well as they might have hoped, and France did not need to stress themselves too much.
01:47am
90 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
Doue finds Mbappe to open up down the inside left, and he squirts a shot high and wide.
Marcus Thuram comes on to replace Mbappe.
There are two minutes of added time indicated. There was no hydration break.
01:44am
87 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
The game, now, is trundling to a close. France will still be looking for a win in their final game to be sure of topping the group.
Mbappe casually flips a half-volley at the keeper from an offside position.
01:40am
83 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
Akliouche and Gusto on. Kounde and Barcola off.
DEMBÉLÉÉÉÉ! LOW STRIKE ACROSS GOAL
After assisting the previous goal, it's now @dembouz's turn to get on the scoresheet
3-0 #FRAIRQ | #FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/iZTkfhDmxR
— French Team(@FrenchTeam) June 23, 2026
01:37am
80 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
Cherki picks out Mbappe with a clever pass, but he sends the ball wide. The striker continues to look for a hat-trick.
01:34am
78 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
France are relaxed now, which has let Iraq back into the match.
DEMBÉLÉÉÉÉ FRAPPE CROISÉE
Passeur sur le dernier but, c'est au tour de @dembouz de faire trembler les filets
3-0 #FRAIRQ | #FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/8Syh0mVIsZ
— Equipe de France
01:32am
75 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
Al Hamadi pulls off Saliba and gets room to stretch to a cross, but he sends the ball a fraction wide.
France have Digne to thank for putting the forward off.
01:26am
69 minutes: France 3 Iraq 0
Alammari and Bayesh come off, Sher and Farji are on for Iraq. Dembele and Olise off for France, with Doue and Cherki on.
01:23amKey moments
66 minutes: GOAL! France 3 Iraq 0 - Dembele scores
A World Cup goal at last for Dembele!
Olise toes a brilliant ball into the box for the PSG man, and he takes the ball on the half-turn before fizzing past the keeper.
France are going through to the next round.
01:22am
65 minutes: France 2 Iraq 0
Pressure from France...
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France celebrate - Frank Fife/AFP via Getty
01:19am
60 minutes: France 2-0 Iraq
Ismael and Tahseen off. Amyn and Sulaka on, as Iraq makes changes.
01:18am
59 minutes: France 2-0 Iraq
Dembele lashes a shot at goal after a pass from Olise, but it’s palmed away.
The ball comes to Rabiot, and he heads just wide of the near post.
01:16am
58 minutes: France 2-0 Iraq
Mbappe dances through a defender, slipping the ball through the player’s legs, before shifting it right to Olise.
He scoops the ball over the keeper, but it crashes against the bar.
01:11amKey moments
54 minutes: GOAL! France 2-0 Iraq - Mbappe scores
A howler from the keeper!
Tasheen hits a goalkeeper to Basil in goal. It’s far too hard, and the ball escapes the keeper, running to Dembele. Dembele instantly fires it across goal to Mbappe, who fires home. Ruthless, simple, calm.
01:08am
51 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
Iraq have started the second half well, without creating a great deal.
01:03am
47 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
No subs so far. It makes sense, as all players have had a two-hour rest.
01:02am
46 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
We go again, at last.
12:58am
It still looks gloomy
I would not bet on us seeing this out.
12:50am
The second half awaits.
We are on the cusp of play restarting. Could it be all cancelled soon again anyway? Don’t think that way!
12:39am
Play to retstart at 12:50am
*finger to earpiece*
I’m being told that we are 11 minutes from more football. Get excited.
12:32am
It’s not getting any better.
Things continue to look wretched out there.
12:18am
Norway vs Senegal ahead
The delay here is so extensive that Norway vs Senegal is on the horizon.
12:12am
Thunderstats
It’s fair to say we’re running out of content.
8.4 - Il y a eu 8.4mm de précipitations à Philadelphie ce 23 juin, c'est plus qu'à Paris ces 15 derniers jours (7mm). Orage. pic.twitter.com/ZcitofAPWk
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 22, 2026
12:03am
The gloaming
It’s not looking good, to paraphrase Castillo.
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France vs Iraq - Derik Hamilton/AFP
11:51pm
Update expected soon - again again
We’re expecting a decision from FIFA in about 10 minutes.
On the one hand, you obviously want people to be safe. On the other hand, I don’t want to be a hostage to fortune by expressing any scepticism.
11:41pm
Update expected soon - again
Alexander Netherton understands an update will come in about five minutes.
Because that is what the BBC said.
11:31pm
Update expected soon
It should be between five and 10 minutes before we get some clarity on a restart.
11:28pm
‘Mbappe wants to be direct’ - Clichy
Former France defender Gael Clichy has had his say on the BBC coverage.
He said: “I think France have all the players to play the right way and when you can see it done correctly things do work. Kylian Mbappe wants to be direct and wants to be in the box.
“We need to be sound on where to be, and the game is never easy, but you will make your life easier because the player we have is out of this world.”
11:25pm
‘A storm in Philadelphia’
Here is how heavy the rain is. With the lightning, we need 30 minutes since the last strike.
11:20pm
The heavens open
Here’s how it looks in the USA. I can sense that “woke nonsense” is lighting up various websites right now.
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France vs Iraq storm - Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty
11:13pm
‘We can do much better’ - Giroud
I once saw Olivier Giroud sporting some immaculate bleached double denim at Eurostar in Paris, and he has offered the BBC a similarly precise bit of analysis at half-time.
He said: “Well, France scored on the 14th minute and I would expect them to push again. We have seen some good movements, but I want to see more players in the box, especially when Dembele, Kounde, Barcola and Digne succeed in finding a good position for a good cross. I want more players attacking the box, but it is a good half, but we can do much better.”
11:07pm
Second half is delayed
I hope you have your coffee, Red Bull, Monster, Relentless and all kinds of energetics lined up.
⁠The start of the second half has been delayed because of thunderstorms, Fifa has announced. A spokesperson has said the game would resume at least 30 minutes from when the half-time break started.
“Please exit the open seating area and seek shelter ⁠in the stadium as directed by the stadium staff. A severe thunderstorm is approaching,” an ⁠advisory message on the scoreboard read.
I don’t think I’ve seen the word “inclement” invoked so many times.
Why the delay?
World Cup matches in the United States can face lengthy delays ​because Fifa must comply with local lightning safety regulations.
Under US protocols, play is suspended immediately if lightning is detected within an ​eight-mile radius ⁠of a stadium and can only resume after 30 ⁠minutes have passed ​without a further strike.
Any new lightning detection resets the ​countdown, meaning delays can stretch for several hours ​if thunderstorms persist.
Fifa ​has no fixed ⁠time ⁠limit after which a match must be abandoned, with each situation assessed on a case-by-case basis.
11:05pm
Another Messi record
You’ve gone about an hour without some Messi stats, so feast on this while we wait for the restart.
10:55pmVideo
Watch Mbappe’s goal
Here’s the strike from the Frenchman.
10:53pm
It’s like rain
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Kylian Mbappe - Jewel Samad/AFP via Getty
10:51pm
Half-time: France 1 Iraq 0
That’s it for the half.
We now live in fear about lightning.
10:48pm
45 + 1 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
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Credit to Iraq for their defensive performance since the opening goal. When Mbappe scored it looked like this might become ugly, but they have done well to hold their shape and frustrate the French forwards. The heavy rain might work in their favour if it creates a more chaotic contest.
10:45pm
42 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
Rabiot concedes a foul in midfield, but the French are largely in control. It’s not an overwhelming performance from them so far.
10:40pm
37 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
To quote the great cricket writer Mike Selvey, it is rodding it down.
We don’t want lightning, because that is an enforced 30 minute break.
It does feel like it’s in the post, though.
10:36pm
32 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
France keep possession calmly for now.
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Kylian Mbappe - JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images
10:33pm
30 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
The match is yet to get back into gear after that interlude.
10:28pm
26 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
Ali Al-Hamadi comes on, with Hussein coming off. Hussein demonstratively fiddled with his groin, suggesting he was injured.
10:25pm
22 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
We have a drinks break now.
No sign of any storms for now, thankfully.
10:20pm
19 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
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This might sound a little dramatic, and it might age absolutely terribly if Iraq suddenly get their act together, but I reckon Mbappe has an outside chance of breaking Messi’s new World Cup record tonight. He would need to score five in this game to overtake Messi in the all-time scoring charts. So that’s four more to go...
10:19pm
17 minutes: France 1 Iraq 0
Mbappe closes in on Ronaldo with that goal.
10:15pmKey moments
14 minutes: GOAL! France 1 Iraq 0 – Mbappé scores
Brilliant from Mbappé!
On his 100th appearance for the national team, the Real Madrid striker shifts the ball onto his left foot, and from 25 yards out, he angles his 15th World Cup goal into the far corner. An outstanding effort with his weaker foot.
10:13pm
11 minutes: France 0 Iraq 0
Iraq are getting pushed further and further back and a goal is starting to feel inevitable, even if there has been no great crisis for them yet.
10:09pm
8 minutes: France 0 Iraq 0
Olise has a sighter blocked, the ball spooning up to Mbappe. It drops for the striker to volley, but he slashes it well wide in the end.
10:07pm
6 minutes: France 0 Iraq 0
Al Ammari is booked as he trips Mbappe about 40 yards from goal. It is a worrying sign of things to come, but at the same time a sensible decision.
10:04pm
3 minutes: France 0 Iraq 0
Doski wins a foul from Kone on the left wing, and the Iraqi side have started well enough, if conservatively.
10:02pm
1 minute: France 0 Iraq 0
Iraq hoof it long and concede a goal kick.
From distance, Kone drags a shot wide and Mbappe can’t quite reach it to toe it towards goal.
09:54pm
The teams walk out onto the pitch
The two sides walk out of the tunnel, with reporters noting the humidity in the ground. A reminder that a win for France sees them go through to the next round.
09:49pm
Mbappe set for 100th cap
Kylian Mbappe is due to win his 100th cap tonight.
He has 58 goals already for the country, and aged 27, a century of goals is within his grasp.
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Kylian Mbappe - Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty
09:46pm
Maignan starts in goal
I was speaking to Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink this morning, and he lamented that Mike Maignan had not made the proposed move to Chelsea last summer.
The goalkeeper offers a reliable presence between the sticks, and with Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba ahead of him, it is a seriously strong base that Deschamps can build his team upon.
09:44pm
More pictures of France arriving
The French team have their own images of the team getting to the game. The match kicks off in 15 or so minutes.
09:38pm
Iraq take to the pitch
The Lions are also out for their warm-ups.
09:36pm
Could this match be disrupted by storms?
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There is a decent chance that this game will become the first of the World Cup to be disrupted by storms. The rules in the USA (these are not controlled by Fifa, but by the local authorities) state that a game must stop for at least 30 minutes if lightning is detected within eight miles of the stadium. The 30-minute countdown then resets each time there is a lightning strike within that radius. Only after a full 30 minutes has passed after supporters are allowed back to their seats.
09:35pm
France warming up
The French team are out on the pitch, warming up ahead of the game.
Échauffement en cours
#FRAIRQ | #FIFAWorldCuppic.twitter.com/sNNlGEfrBo
— Equipe de France
09:34pm
Iraq are here too
Aymen Hussein is here for Iraq, along with the rest of the squad.
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Aymen Hussein - MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty
09:32pm
France arrive
The players have arrived, with Kylian Mbappe leading the way for his team.
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Michael Olise - FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty
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Kylian Mbappe - MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP Via Getty
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Brice Samba - MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty
09:13pm
Messi rivals Just Fontaine and Jairzinho
This will be the last round of Messi praise for at least seven minutes, but here is a rare accomplishment.
09:05pm
More Messi stats
The committed stat gurus at ITV have put together a list of some of Messi’s records. Can Harry Kane catch him? No, probably not.
08:56pmAnalysis
Messi four clear of Mbappe
Lionel Messi’s two-goal haul against Austria has moved him top of the all-time goalscoring records for World Cup final matches.
He has 18, Ronaldo (Brazilian!) has 15, and Mbappe has 14.
Four goals for the Frenchman tonight would take him level.
08:48pm
‘Please take shelter’
This is how seriously the organisers are taking the weather. A lot of people like to brush these things off as over-affected, but given it’s going to get meltingly hot this week for a lot of people, some common sense is necessary sometimes.
08:43pm
Team line-ups for tonight’s match
France Maignan, Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne, Kone, Rabiot, Olise, Dembele, Barcola, Mbappe.
Subs Samba, Risser, Gusto, Tchouameni, Thuram, Kante, Konate, Zaire Emery, Theo Hernandez, Doue, Lucas Hernandez, Mateta, Cherki, Akliouche, Lacroix.
Iraq Basil, Hussein Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski, Al Ammari, Ismail, Bayesh, Iqbal, Qasem, Hussein.
Subs Talib, Hassan, Sulaka, Younis, Amyn, Al Hamadi, Mohanad Ali, Yousif, Hasan, Jasim, Yakob, Sher, Farji, Saadoun, Putros. Referee Drew Fischer (Canada)
08:14pm
Fans asked to stay away
The hosts of today’s games had asked fans to stay away because of a delayed gate opening.
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The weather forecast is looking bleak in Philadelphia - Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Heavy rains and the threat of thunderstorms led to the decision.
“Due to inclement weather in the region, gates opening will be delayed,” a statement from the stadium’s X account read.
“If you are not in the area, please do not travel to Philadelphia Stadium at this time.
“A new gates opening time will be communicated once the weather has passed. If you are near Philadelphia Stadium, please take shelter.”
However, gates have since been opened. Despite that, the match may be paused should the concerns of lightning reappear.
08:11pm
France target qualification tonight against Iraq
Welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live coverage of the 2026 World Cup Group I match between France and Iraq.
For France, they are looking for their second consecutive victory after they defeated Senegal 3-1 in their opening match.
The three points a win would bring would guarantee them passage to the knockout rounds, though they would still have a game against Norway to play, so they are not yet assured of topping their ground, which theoretically should give them a favourable position in the bracket.
Iraq, meanwhile, lost their first game, 4-1 against Norway. Few would be surprised if they lost here today, nor would it be a shock if they went on to lose their final game against Senegal.
However, the World Cup has thrown up a fair few surprises already, as well as some one-sided tonkings, so it is far from guaranteed that Didier Deschamps’ will have a walkover tonight.
The game takes place at Philadelphia Stadium, which is to nobody’s surprise, located in Philadelphia, the home of famous sporting underdog Rocky, who went on from boxing success to become a troubled action hero.
Much of the attention will be on France’s star players. Kylian Mbappe is the obvious one, the Real Madrid star who may be looking for one last tournament where he can play unfettered, before he is bullied into tracking back and working the channels for his new club head coach, Jose Mourinho.
He is not the only dangerman for Iraq to fear, with Manchester City playmaker Rayan Cherki also a threat, though towering bearded talisman Olivier Giroud has taken a backseat to offer his bons mots as a television pundit instead.
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