Mbappe's brace secures France's advance to World Cup round of 32

Kylian Mbappé scored his 15th and 16th World Cup goals, netting a brace in France's 3‑0 victory over Iraq at the Philadelphia stadium on 23 June. The win placed France top of Group I with six points, confirming their progression to the 32‑team knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match was temporarily halted for more than two hours because of heavy rain and lightning, marking the tournament's first weather‑related stoppage.

In the same round, Norway's Erling Haaland also recorded a brace in a 3‑2 win against Senegal, keeping the golden‑boot race very close. Lionel Messi leads the scoring charts with five goals, while Mbappé and Haaland each have four. The final group matches are scheduled for 27 June, which will decide the group winner and runner‑up positions.