France starting lineup vs Iraq confirmed as Kylian Mabppe named for FIFA World Cup 2026 match
(Courtesy : Getty)
Les Bleus can seal a place in the World Cup knockouts with a win in tonight’s match.
France take on Iraq in their second Group I clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on June 22. Les Bleus, who made a good start to their World Cup campaign with a big win over Senegal, will look to reach the final for the fifth time in eight editions.
One of the early favourites to lift this year’s title, the French side made a whirlwind start against Senegal, courtesy of a masterclass performance from Kylian Mbappe. The Real Madrid forward scored twice, with Bradley Barcola scoring another, to neutralise the threat of the Lions of Teranga.
The performance made Mbappe the all-time leading goalscorer for the national side. He will be key once again as Didier Deschamps’ men look for a second successive win that will book their place in the Round of 32.
Despite Iraq coming into the fixture after a 4-1 loss to Norway, they will present a significant threat going forward, especially with Les Bleus failing to keep a clean sheet in their last six games. Still, the European giants will be massive favourites to seal a big win tonight and book their place in the knockout stages.
Let’s look at the France confirmed lineup for the FIFA World Cup 2026 match against Iraq:
France (4-2-3-1): Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne; Manu Kone, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola; Kylian Mbappe (c).
Substitutes: Robin Risser (gk), Brice Samba (gk), Maghnes Akliouche, Rayan Cherki, Desire Doue, Malo Gusto, Lucas Hernandez, Theo Hernandez, N’Golo Kante, Ibrahima Konate, Maxence Lacroix, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Aurelien Tchouameni, Marcus Thuram, Warren Zaire-Emery.
Thoughts on the lineup
Despite a solid win over Senegal in their last outing, Deschamps has been tipped to rotate a few players for tonight’s match. However, Mike Maignan is the established No. 1 and keeps his place between the sticks.
Jules Kounde slots in at right-back as he does for Barcelona. Dayot Upamecano and William Saliba keep their places in the heart of defence after having wonderful domestic seasons. The only change in the backline comes at left-back, with Aston Villa’s Lucas Digne replacing Theo Hernandez.
AS Roma’s Manu Kone comes in for Aurelien Tchouameni and is tasked with breaking up the opposition’s attacks. Adrien Rabiot starts alongside Kone and will be in charge of dictating the tempo of the game.
Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembele start in advanced roles, with the Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain attackers likely to exchange positions on the flanks and through the middle as the match progresses.
On the left flank, last match’s goalscorer Bradley Barcola comes in for club teammate Desire Doue. Finally, the team’s talisman, Mbappe, keeps his place as the lone striker.
When is France vs Iraq FIFA World Cup 2026 match?
The Group I clash is scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. In India, the match will kick off at 2:30 AM IST on June 23.
Where to watch France vs Iraq match in India?
Fans in India can watch the game live on Zee5 (premium subscription required) or on Unite8 Sports TV channels.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.