France rout Iraq 3–0 after storm delay

Kylian Mbappé scored twice and equalled Miroslav Klose's World Cup scoring record as France swept past Iraq 3–0 in a Group I contest at Philadelphia Stadium that was halted for over two hours by a thunderstorm before France returned to dominate the second half.

Mbappé, who now stands level with Klose on 16 World Cup goals — second only to Lionel Messi's newly set record of 18 — struck either side of the extended weather delay, with Ousmane Dembélé adding a third to seal a commanding win that puts Didier Deschamps's side on the brink of the Round of 32.

France were already in control when lightning in the vicinity of the stadium forced a suspension late in the first half, with the stadium evacuated and both sides kept waiting as FIFA's protocol required a minimum 30-minute clearance after the final lightning strike. The delay stretched beyond two hours before play eventually resumed.

Mbappé had given France the lead on 14 minutes with a goal of pure class — collecting a pass from Michael Olise on the right edge of the box and bending a powerful left-footed curler past goalkeeper Ahmed Basil Fadhil. Iraq's defence had backed off him at precisely the wrong moment, and he made them pay.

The second arrived nine minutes into the second half, courtesy of an Iraqi defensive error. A backpass from Ahmed Kassem caught Fadhil in no man's land, and Dembélé pounced on the loose ball before unselfishly squaring it to Mbappé, who converted into an open goal. The strike took Mbappé to 16 World Cup goals, drawing him level with Klose's long-standing record. Only Messi, who earlier on Monday broke it by reaching 18, now stands ahead of him on the all-time list.

Dembélé then claimed his first ever World Cup goal, finishing off a fine move after a measured pass from Olise to make it 3–0 and end the contest.

France have now won both group matches and moved firmly into position to seal qualification. Iraq, meanwhile, face a daunting task to survive the group stage, needing results to fall their way as their tournament hopes hang by a thread.