FRANCE SECURED A place in the World Cup knockout phase with a game to spare as Kylian Mbappe marked his 100th international appearance with two goals in a 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday.
Ousmane Dembele also found the net for the two-time world champions as Didier Deschamps’ men made it back-to-back wins in Group I after a game which was delayed for two hours at half-time due to the threat of thunderstorms.
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Your going to need more than a lightning strike to stop Kylian Mbappe here in Philadelphia as he pounces on an Iraq blunder to double France's lead
The match kicked off in dry conditions before rain began to fall late in the first half, and supporters were told as soon as the half-time whistle was blown to “exit the open seating area and seek shelter in covered areas of the stadium”.
The vast majority of the 68,324-capacity Lincoln Financial Field, renamed Philadelphia Stadium for the tournament, is uncovered — leaving most of the capacity crowd to pack into the concourses.
It is the first match of this World Cup to be delayed by the threat of severe weather, with strict protocols in place in the United States when a storm is detected in the surrounding area.
Several games at last year’s Club World Cup in the US were held up because of bad weather.
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France overcome Iraq to book World Cup knockout spot after two-hour thunderstorm delay
France 3
Iraq 0
FRANCE SECURED A place in the World Cup knockout phase with a game to spare as Kylian Mbappe marked his 100th international appearance with two goals in a 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia on Monday.
Ousmane Dembele also found the net for the two-time world champions as Didier Deschamps’ men made it back-to-back wins in Group I after a game which was delayed for two hours at half-time due to the threat of thunderstorms.
The match kicked off in dry conditions before rain began to fall late in the first half, and supporters were told as soon as the half-time whistle was blown to “exit the open seating area and seek shelter in covered areas of the stadium”.
The vast majority of the 68,324-capacity Lincoln Financial Field, renamed Philadelphia Stadium for the tournament, is uncovered — leaving most of the capacity crowd to pack into the concourses.
It is the first match of this World Cup to be delayed by the threat of severe weather, with strict protocols in place in the United States when a storm is detected in the surrounding area.
Several games at last year’s Club World Cup in the US were held up because of bad weather.
– © AFP 2026
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