France Dominates Iraq in Philadelphia

Les Bleus continued their commanding World Cup campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Kylian Mbappe scored twice, taking his tournament tally to four goals, while Antoine Griezmann added a third in the second half. The victory moves France to six points from two matches, positioning them strongly to top Group I ahead of a decisive final group match against Norway on Friday, June 26. The Norwegian side also has four points after a 1-1 draw with Cote d'Ivoire and a 2-1 victory over Sweden.

France dominated possession from the opening whistle, with Mbappe's pace causing constant problems for the Iraqi defense. He opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after cutting in from the left wing. His second came in the 55th minute, a poacher's finish from close range after a deflected shot fell kindly at his feet. Griezmann rounded off the scoring with a trademark curling effort into the far corner, sealing a comfortable victory that allows manager Didier Deschamps to rest key players in the final group match if needed.

Group I Standings and Knockout Picture

The Group I standings have France in first place with six points and a +5 goal difference, followed by Norway with four points. Cote d'Ivoire has one point after two draws, and Iraq sits at the bottom with zero points and elimination already confirmed. The final group match between France and Norway at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Friday, June 26 will determine the group winner. France needs only a draw to finish first, while Norway must win to top the group. The second-place team will face the winner of Group J, potentially Argentina.

France entered the tournament as one of the favorites alongside Argentina and Brazil, and their performances have validated those expectations. Deschamps has successfully integrated younger players like Eduardo Camavinga and Randal Kolo Muani into a squad that retains core veterans including Griezmann and captain Hugo Lloris. The team's depth has been on full display, with the second-half substitutions maintaining intensity rather than dropping off. France's path through the knockout rounds looks favorable, with a potential quarterfinal against Spain or Morocco and a semifinal that could feature Brazil.

World Cup Viewing and India Interest

The 2026 World Cup has generated enormous interest in India, where football viewership has been growing steadily. Major broadcasters including Sports18 and JioCinema are carrying all 104 matches live with Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Malayalam commentary. Matches involving France, Argentina and Brazil have drawn particularly strong ratings in Indian metro cities. The tournament's timing — with afternoon and evening matches in North America corresponding to late night and early morning in India — has led to record overnight viewership figures.

For Indian fans, the expanded format has introduced them to nations like Haiti, Cape Verde and Jordan, broadening the global football landscape. The performances of Asian teams — including Saudi Arabia's competitive showing against Spain — have sparked discussions about when India might make its World Cup debut. The All India Football Federation has cited the 48-team expansion and increased Asian slots as key motivators for its development programs, including the establishment of 20 new grassroots academies across the country.

Sources

Sources: SBS News, NBC Sports, UEFA.com, Olympics.com, FIFA official website, Sports18 broadcast data