Mbappé’s stunning strike gives France first-half lead against Iraq

France finished first-half with a 1-0 lead against Iraq in their Group I clash in Boston, courtesy of another moment of brilliance from captain Kylian Mbappé.

The breakthrough came in the 14th minute when Mbappé unleashed a superb left-footed effort from outside the penalty area. The powerful strike curled into the corner of the net, leaving the Iraqi goalkeeper with no chance and handing France an early advantage.

The goal was Mbappé’s third of the tournament and his 15th overall in World Cup history. With the strike, the French superstar moved level with Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazário in the all-time World Cup scoring chart. Only Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi now remain ahead of him.

France dominated possession and dictated the tempo throughout the opening 45 minutes, repeatedly pushing Iraq onto the back foot. The Asian side, still searching for its first points after a heavy defeat to Norway in its opening match, struggled to create meaningful opportunities and spent much of the half defending against sustained French pressure.

Weather conditions also became a talking point during the match as rain swept across the stadium and dark clouds gathered over Boston. However, play continued uninterrupted, with tournament regulations allowing for a temporary suspension only in the event of lightning risks.