PHILADELPHIA — Monday’s FIFA World Cup group stage match between France and Iraq made tournament history before delivering the kind of individual brilliance that has become synonymous with Kylian Mbappé, as Les Bleus weathered the first-ever rain delay in World Cup history to secure a 3-0 victory and a spot in the knockout round, with Mbappé netting twice to climb into elite company on the all-time tournament goalscoring list.
The 27-year-old French superstar, playing his 100th senior international match under soggy conditions at Lincoln Financial Field, opened the scoring in the 14th minute, slotting a left-footed strike from the edge of the 18-yard box past Iraq starting goalkeeper Ahmed Basil. The goal gave France a 1-0 lead heading into halftime, just as a severe thunderstorm rolled into Philadelphia, triggering a 2-hour and 2-minute delay that upended the match schedule.
Match officials ordered thousands of spectators to seek shelter in the stadium’s covered concourses and balconies as sheets of rain drenched the Kentucky bluegrass pitch, leaving grounds crews to squeegee standing water off the playing surface ahead of the second half. The venue, home of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, has a history of weather-related disruptions: last season’s Eagles home opener was delayed 65 minutes by lightning, and Monday’s storm brought a familiar set of inconveniences for fans, from overpriced concession stands to unplanned breaks that extended the match long past its original end time. By the time play resumed, many fans had already headed for the exits, while the remaining French supporters waved tricolor flags and splashed through standing water in the concourses to pass the time. Iraq head coach Graham Arnold even had a viral moment wrestling with a rain poncho before retreating to the covered dugout.
When play finally restarted, it did not take long for Mbappé to add to his tally. In the 54th minute, Iraqi defender Zaid Tahseen played a sloppy back pass directly to Ousmane Dembélé, who controlled the loose ball and found Mbappé open in front of goal. The French captain tapped home his second of the night with his right foot, pushing France’s lead to 2-0. The reigning Ballon d’Or winner Dembélé capped the scoring late for France, sealing the 3-0 win for Didier Deschamps’ side.
The two goals moved Mbappé to 16 career World Cup goals, pulling him level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for second on the all-time list, one clear Brazil’s Ronaldo and just two behind new record holder Lionel Messi. Messi, Mbappé’s long-time rival, had stretched his record to 18 goals earlier the same day, scoring twice in Argentina’s win over Algeria in Kansas City. Mbappé came close to claiming a hat trick on a late breakaway, but his final effort missed the target before he was substituted out in the 90th minute.
Beyond the milestone, the win secures France’s place in the knockout round as one of the tournament’s co-favorites alongside Spain. Les Bleus could return to Philadelphia for a quarterfinal match against Germany on July 4 if results hold in the remaining group stage games.
For Iraq, making just their second World Cup appearance in history after debuting in 1986, the match brought more than just a defeat. Star striker Aymen Hussein, who scored his 34th international goal in Iraq’s opening 4-1 loss to Norway, was forced off with an apparent injury just 26 minutes into the first half, replaced by Ali Al-Hamadi. Basil, who got his first start of the tournament in place of captain Jalal Hassan who conceded four goals against Norway, could not stop Mbappé and Dembélé’s attacking pressure on the night.
For the fans that stayed through the entire two-hour rain delay and the final whistle, the night ended with a celebration of one of the game’s greatest players, who continues to chase history as the tournament progresses.