New Delhi, June 23: Kylian Mbappe continued his remarkable World Cup form with another brilliant brace as France secured a convincing 3-0 victory over Iraq and booked their place in the knockout stages of FIFA World Cup 2026.
The French superstar scored twice to take his World Cup tally to 16 goals, drawing level with one of the tournament’s greatest goalscorers and moving closer to the all-time record. His latest performance further cemented his status as one of the defining players of the modern era.
France took control early in the match when Mbappe opened the scoring with a clinical finish from outside the penalty area. The goal gave Les Bleus a deserved lead after a dominant start against an Iraqi side looking to bounce back from defeat in its opening fixture.
The contest was interrupted by severe weather conditions, with heavy rain and thunderstorms causing a lengthy delay during halftime. Fans were instructed to seek shelter as play was suspended for more than two hours before eventually resuming.
Despite the interruption, France maintained its intensity after the restart. Mbappe capitalized on a defensive mistake to score his second goal of the evening, putting the result beyond doubt and adding another milestone to his growing list of achievements.
Ousmane Dembele also got on the scoresheet, netting his first-ever World Cup goal to complete a comfortable victory for the 2018 champions.
Mbappe’s latest brace placed him among an elite group of footballers who have scored multiple goals in consecutive World Cup appearances. The achievement further underlines his consistency on football’s biggest stage and strengthens his position among the tournament’s greatest performers.
The victory ensured France’s qualification for the knockout rounds after securing six points from its opening two matches. With another group-stage fixture still to come, Les Bleus are firmly on course to finish at the top of Group I.
As France continues its quest for another World Cup title, Mbappe’s extraordinary form could prove decisive in the team’s pursuit of global glory.
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