Mbappe scores twice to inspire France past Iraq after storm halts World Cup clash

Kylian Mbappe scored twice to lead France to a 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia, though the World Cup group-stage match was suspended for almost two hours after a severe storm forced both teams off the pitch.

The lengthy interruption visibly unsettled the France captain, who was candid about its psychological toll in his post-match comments. “It was a very long night. A lot of time passed, emotionally, and I was very nervous,” Mbappe said, as quoted by ESPN. “It’s very difficult because we had to stay focused, we had to be present in the locker room.”

Mbappe elaborated on the specific challenge of maintaining competitive sharpness during the enforced break. “It was an hour and a half, almost two hours, in the locker room,” he added. “Staying focused is very difficult. It demands a lot. We made a great effort to try to stay involved. It’s very complicated, but in the end, we achieved our goal.”

Once the match resumed, France reasserted control and eventually secured all three points with a comfortable margin. Mbappe’s brace was the decisive contribution, ensuring Les Bleus progressed to the knockout stage despite the disruption.

France’s place in the last 16 is now confirmed, but the squad will return to action on Friday for their final group fixture against Norway, with the top spot in the group still to be decided.