Mbappé double sinks Iraq as Deschamps matches World Cup record

France 3–0 Iraq, and the storm told the story

Your team went into halftime down 1–0, and then the sky broke open. A severe thunderstorm hit Philadelphia and stopped play for two hours (2) (3). When the match resumed, France were sharper. Mbappé scored twice, Dembélé added the third, and Iraq could not find a way back (1) (3) (4).

Hussein Ali spent his night trying to contain Mbappé, and for stretches he held his ground. But the French captain is relentless. The 3–0 scoreline is harsh on a side that stayed disciplined and physical throughout.

The defeat leaves Iraq in a difficult spot in Group I. Progress to the knockout stages is now under serious threat.

Malo Gusto made his World Cup debut

Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto got his first World Cup minutes off the bench for France (1) (4). Chelsea are monitoring his workload closely during the tournament (1).

Messi stands alone

Elsewhere, Lionel Messi became the all-time top scorer in World Cup history (2). The record was his alone by the end of the night.

Fan-reaktioner

Iraqi fans have been quiet on the English-speaking forums, but the broader football world is reflecting on Didier Deschamps. He has now matched Helmut Schön's record of 16 World Cup wins as a coach, and he did it in four fewer matches. One thread notes Deschamps has already confirmed he will step down after the tournament, so the number may not grow much further.