France aim to lock up a spot in the Round of 32 with a victory over Iraq in the second round of the 2026 World Cup group stage. With megastar Kylian Mbappe leading the attack, anticipation is sky-high for how this heavyweight matchup against the Asian contingent will unfold.
While Les Bleus will be missing the injured Aurelien Tchouameni, the rest of the star-studded roster is fully available for selection as they look to punch their ticket to the knockout rounds with a definitive performance.
Meanwhile, Iraq are hunting for a massive upset despite a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opener. Despite a resilient first-half display, the Middle Eastern side ultimately couldn’t contain Norway’s high-powered offense, and they now face the daunting task of slowing down an equally lethal French frontline.
Broadcast details and kickoff times for France vs. Iraq have already been finalized for viewers in the United States. It is now only a matter of time before these two Group I squads take the pitch.
Confirmed lineup for France
With Mbappe will anchor the attack against Iraq, France rewarded Bradley Barcola with a starting nod following his spectacular goal against Senegal. N’Golo Kante is once again starting on the bench, where he will be joined by Aurelien Tchouameni, also a substitute today. Here is the confirmed lineup for Les Bleus:
- Goalkeeper: Mike Maignan
- Defenders: Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Lucas Digne
- Midfielders: Kouadio Kone, Adrien Rabiot
- Forwards: Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappe (C)
Confirmed lineup for Iraq
Sparing any late injuries or disciplinary suspensions, Iraq will have their full roster available as they look to spark a miracle. Here is how the Lions of Mesopotamia are confirmed to line up against France:
- Goalkeeper: Ahmed Basil (C)
- Defenders: Hussein Ali, Akam Hashim, Zaid Tahseen, Merchas Doski
- Midfielders: Ibrahim Bayesh, Amir Al-Ammari, Zidane Iqbal, Zaid Ismael
- Forward: Aymen Hussein, Ahmed Qasem
