France showed exactly why they are one of the tournament favourites with a crucial 3-0 win over Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, moving top of their group at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
This 3-goal contest featured some fine finishing, though scorer details are yet to be confirmed by official sources.
France edged the territorial battle, finishing with 55.5% possession against their opponent's 44.5%. The shot count read 19 to 4 — France showed greater menace in the final third but the numbers only tell part of the story.
France top their group with a maximum haul of three points from the opening fixture. For Iraq, the recovery work begins immediately — there is plenty of football still to play in a format that gives every team a genuine chance to qualify. The 68,324 crowd inside Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania played their part throughout.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first with 48 nations — has been defined by its unpredictability. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, it offers football fans a spectacle unlike anything seen before, with matches spread across iconic venues on three continents.
