France vs Iraq Preview: Team News & Prediction | FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group Stage
France began their FIFA World Cup with an eventually comfortable and impressive victory as they now take on Iraq in Philadelphia in Group I on Monday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – BBC / USA – FOX Sports
How to watch online: UK – BBC iPlayer & the BBC Sport website & app / USA – FOX One
France preview: Impressive French
In what is Didier Deschamps' final tournament in charge of France, he perhaps boasts his most impressive squad and his ability to tweak small things could make them three-time world champions this summer, having won it in 2018 and finished as runners-up in 2022; and they flexed their muscles in their opener.
Having been bettered for the majority of the first half against Senegal in their opening game, Deschamps' tweaked things with Michael Olise moving in to attacking midfield and that central role helped the French to thrive with Kylian Mbappe scoring a brace of goals either side of Bradley Barcola notching one as they defeated the Senegalese by three goals to one.
Iraq preview: Competitive but comfortably beaten
Having got through to the fifth round of AFC qualification for FIFA World Cup 2026 and then into the Inter-Confederation Play-offs, Iraq have to be viewed as one of the weakest sides at the tournament and a beneficiary of its expansion but, with Graham Arnold at the helm, they did prove to be relatively competitive against a strong Norway side last week.
Having held Norway up until after the hydration break, Iraq then managed to peg the Scandinavians back with an equaliser before Erling Haaland pounced on a Jalal Hassan mistake to retake the lead before the break and then Norway eventually overpowered an admirable Iraqi side in Boston.
France team news: Olise in the middle
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Michael Olise moving into the middle of the park appeared to be what got the French ticking in the final third and so that is expected once again, splitting Paris Saint-German duo Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue.
The latter is under pressure from club teammate Bradley Barcola, while Theo Hernandez pipped brother Lucas Hernandez, as well as Lucas Digne to the left-back role.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Doue, Olise, Dembele; Mbappe
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Iraq team news: Unlikely to change
Further team news will appear here closer to the match after pre-match press conferences...
Even though Graham Arnold's side were eventually comfortably beaten by the Norwegians, Iraq will be quite content with how they performed and so it is unlikely that they will make too many changes.
The key men for the Iraqis remain the strike partnership of Aymen Hussein and Ali Al Hamadi but they may well be feeding off scraps against the star-studded French.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Hassan; Ali, Tahseen, Hashim, Doski; Bayesh, Al Ammari, Ismael, Jasim; Hussein, Al Hamadi
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France’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Ousmane Dembele ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Michael Olise ($10.0m) – Midfielder
Kylian Mbappe ($10.5m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Kylian Mbappe
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Kylian Mbappe
Free kicks: Michael Olise
Corners: Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki
Iraq’s top FIFA World Cup Fantasy assets
Amir Al Ammari ($5.3m) – Midfielder
Zaid Ismael ($4.4m) – Midfielder
Aymen Hussein ($5.3m) – Forward
Matchday 2 captain pick: Aymen Hussein
Set-piece duty
Penalties: Aymen Hussein
Free kicks: Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim
Corners: Amir Al-Ammari, Ali Jasim
Key stats
- France are aiming to start a FIFA World Cup campaign with two successive wins for the fourth edition in a row.
- France have lost only one of their last ten FIFA World Cup group stage matches (W7 D2).
- France have won 12 of their last 15 FIFA World Cup matches (D2 L1).
- With his 21st match in charge, Didier Deschamps will move into joint‑third place on the all‑time list for most FIFA World Cup games as a head coach, drawing level with Luiz Felipe Scolari (21) and trailing only Helmut Schön (25) and Carlos Alberto Parreira (23).
- Kylian Mbappé has now netted 58 international goals, overtaking Olivier Giroud as France’s all-time record goalscorer.
- This is Iraq’s third FIFA World Cup match against a European team following their 1-2 defeat to Belgium in 1986 and 1-4 loss against Norway in their opening match at the 2026 finals.
- Iraq are aiming for a first positive result at the FIFA World Cup having lost their four previous outings.
- France head coach Didier Deschamps overcame Iraq head coach Graham Arnold when France defeated Australia 4-1 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Click here for EVEN MORE stats & facts about this fixture!
France vs Iraq prediction
France are expected to try and put their foot down to secure knockout qualification and, crucially, to try and secure top spot with Norway having enjoyed a three-goal victory, in comparison to France's two-goal win against Senegal, leaving the French chasing ahead of the second round of fixtures.
Iraq have some threats with Merchas Doski and Ali Jasim down the left ably supporting the strike partnership of Aymen Hussein and Ali Al Hamadi but they remain limited and whatever time they do get on the ball is unlikely to be overly productive.
France put three past a strong Senegal side. Iraq conceded four to a strong Norway team that aren't of the same level as the French. A high-scoring Les Bleus win is to be expected.
France vs Iraq betting tip: France to score four or more goals
