Football

FIFA World Cup 2026: Mbappé Scores Twice as France Crush Iraq 3-0 Through Tournament’s First Rain Delay

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to move into a tie for second place on the all-time World Cup goalscoring list with 16 career goals,

Ankit Thakur 4 hours ago · 3 min read

Kylian Mbappé scored twice to move into a tie for second place on the all-time World Cup goalscoring list with 16 career goals, as France cruised past Iraq 3-0 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday — a match that will be remembered as much for the tournament’s first rain delay as for the quality of French football on display. The victory extends France’s unbeaten run in World Cup group stages to 14 matches and confirms Les Bleus as one of the tournament’s most formidable contenders.

The rain delay — a first in World Cup history — came midway through the second half when a severe thunderstorm rolled through Philadelphia, forcing a 37-minute interruption. The break, far from disrupting France’s rhythm, seemed only to sharpen their focus, with Mbappé scoring his second goal shortly after the restart.

Mbappé’s Two Goals

First Goal (23′): Mbappé’s opening goal was a classic demonstration of his devastating pace. Antoine Griezmann picked out the forward with a lofted through ball over Iraq’s defensive line. Mbappé, timing his run to perfection, was already at full sprint when the ball arrived. His first touch was immaculate, and his finish — a low shot driven past Iraqi goalkeeper Jalal Hassan — was coldly efficient. It was the kind of goal that only a handful of players in world football can score.

Second Goal (72′): Mbappé’s second came immediately after the rain delay. With Iraq’s players still readjusting to match tempo, Mbappé received the ball on the left flank, cut inside past two defenders, and unleashed a curling right-footed shot that found the top corner. The goal was a thing of beauty — the kind of individual effort that justifies the hype, the transfer fees, and the comparisons to the greats.

Ousmane Dembélé (45’+2′): France’s third goal, scored by Dembélé on the stroke of halftime, was a well-worked team effort. A flowing move involving Griezmann and Aurélien Tchouaméni ended with Dembélé finishing from close range. At 3-0 by halftime (plus stoppage), the contest was effectively over.

The Historic Rain Delay

The 37-minute rain delay in the 64th minute created unprecedented scenes at a World Cup:

The Storm: A severe thunderstorm — with lightning, heavy rain, and strong winds — forced the referee to halt play. Both teams retreated to the dressing rooms while ground staff covered the pitch. The delay was the first weather-related stoppage in the 96-year history of the World Cup, highlighting the challenges of hosting the tournament in North America during the summer thunderstorm season.

The Impact: For France, the delay was a minor inconvenience. For Iraq, it was a missed opportunity to regroup — instead, the restart saw Mbappé score within eight minutes, killing any hopes of a comeback.

Mbappé’s Record Chase

With 16 career World Cup goals, Mbappé now sits level with Miroslav Klose and one behind Lionel Messi’s new record of 18 (set earlier on Monday). At just 27, Mbappé has at least two more World Cups ahead of him. The all-time record — whoever holds it when Mbappé retires — will almost certainly belong to the Frenchman before his career ends.

Group I Standings

Group I: France (6 pts, +6 GD); Norway (6 pts, +2 GD); Senegal (0 pts, -2 GD); Iraq (0 pts, -6 GD).

France and Norway have both qualified for the knockout stage. Their final group match against each other will determine who tops the group — a tactically significant question that could influence the knockout-stage draw.

Ankit Thakur

Ankit Thakur is an Editor at Daily Tips overseeing sports and entertainment coverage. A lifelong sports enthusiast with years of journalism experience, he covers cricket, kabaddi, football, esports, and gaming. He also manages the publication's entertainment vertical, bringing insider knowledge and passionate storytelling to every piece.

Ankit Thakur

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