France beat Iraq 3-0, but VAR controversy over disputed Upamecano penalty mars victory

France qualified for the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup by dominating Iraq 3-0 on matchday two of the group stage, but the encounter left a bitter taste of refereeing controversy.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice and Ousmane Dembélé added the third goal for the Blues, securing a clear-cut victory on the scoreboard. However, Canadian referee Drew Fischer, appointed by FIFA, became the focus of criticism after the match.

The flashpoint came in the 8th minute: following an intervention by Amir Al-Ammari, Dayot Upamecano collapsed in the box after contact that several observers deemed irregular. Fischer allowed play to continue, and VAR upheld his decision not to award a penalty. The sequence might have remained a simple difference of interpretation had the television broadcast offered a clear replay of the action — which it did not, according to the specialist account Archivo VAR. This visual silence fueled numerous reactions on social media, with several users denouncing a lack of transparency around the incident.

Sportingly, France provisionally tops Group I level on points with Norway, who beat Senegal 3-2 the same evening. The two European teams will meet on June 26 at 21:00 to fight for first place in the group. Senegal, for its part, must beat Iraq to have any hope of finishing among the eight best third-place teams and continuing in the competition.