France Eases Past Iraq 3-0 Amid Lengthy Philadelphia Storm Delay

France delivered a commanding performance to defeat a resilient Iraq side 3-0 in a weather-disrupted Group I match in Philadelphia. The match was heavily impacted by a severe thunderstorm, forcing a two-hour lightning delay at halftime. Despite the disruption, Didier Deschamps' side maintained absolute focus to secure an early ticket to the World Cup knockout stage.

The breakthrough came early in the 14th minute when superstar Kylian Mbappé marked his 100th international appearance with a stunning opening goal from outside the box. After play finally resumed following the long weather delay, Mbappé struck again in the 54th minute, turning home a precise pass from Ousmane Dembélé to double France's lead.

Dembélé later turned goalscorer in the 66th minute, capitalizing on a defensive error as Iraq attempted to play out from the back. The forward clinical finish sealed a dominant 3-0 win for Les Bleus.

The victory keeps France perfect at the top of Group I with six points. Meanwhile, Iraq remains at the bottom of the group after consecutive defeats and must secure a win against Senegal in their final group match to keep any mathematical hope of advancing alive.