Mbappe Marks 100th Cap with Brace in France Win

France booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 with a dominant 3-0 victory over Iraq, inspired by captain Kylian Mbappe on the landmark occasion of his 100th international appearance.

The Real Madrid superstar delivered a Player of the Match performance, scoring twice to guide Les Bleus into the knockout stages and continue his pursuit of both the Golden Boot and the all-time FIFA World Cup scoring record.

Mbappe opened the scoring in the 14th minute with a stunning left-footed strike from outside the box after a clever setup from Michael Olise. The goal was his 15th in FIFA World Cup history, moving him closer to the tournament’s greatest goalscorers.

His second goal arrived after a costly defensive error by Iraq. A miscommunication between defender Zaid Tahseen and goalkeeper Ahmed Basil gifted possession to Ousmane Dembele, who selflessly squared the ball for Mbappe to score his 16th World Cup goal, drawing level with Miroslav Klose's long-standing record.

Dembele then got on the scoresheet himself, finishing brilliantly after another creative assist from Olise to complete a convincing French victory in a match delayed by thunderstorms in Philadelphia.

The result guarantees France a place in the Round of 32, while setting up a highly anticipated clash against Norway in their final group-stage match. Mbappe's latest goals also keep him firmly in contention with Lionel Messi in the race for the 2026 Golden Boot and the all-time World Cup scoring crown.

Kylian Mbappé earns the Superior Player of the Match trophy. ✨

#FIFAWorldCup #SuperiorPOTM pic.twitter.com/2E394ujCgk

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 23, 2026

Player of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (France)

France head coach Didier Deschamps praised his team's control after the break and welcomed early qualification.

"In the second half, we were completely in control, bearing in mind that it wasn’t straightforward given what had happened. But putting the result beyond doubt is a very good thing; we've qualified tonight, even though I'm convinced that the third match against Norway will be decisive for our final position in the group."

France now head into their final group fixture full of confidence as they continue their quest for a third FIFA World Cup title.