Kylian Mbappe makes a statement as France overcome two-hour storm delay to beat Iraq at World Cup

France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a World Cup group stage match played in Philadelphia on June 23, 2026, with the game delayed for approximately two hours due to a storm. Kylian Mbappe delivered a standout performance and received a standing ovation, continuing a trend of top strikers scoring braces in their opening World Cup matches alongside Harry Kane and Erling Haaland. The result comes in the context of Lionel Messi also making headlines at the tournament, having scored a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria.