Mbappé shines as France advance after chaotic weather halt

France booked their place in the Round of 32 after a surreal 3-0 win over Iraq in Philadelphia, a match defined as much by the weather as by Kylian Mbappé’s brilliance. The captain marked his 100th appearance with two goals, striking early with a curling finish before adding a second shortly after play resumed.

The World Cup encounter was suspended for more than two hours due to lightning detected near the stadium, forcing spectators to evacuate and players to remain in the dressing rooms until conditions were deemed safe. Despite the chaos, France maintained control once the match restarted, with Ousmane Dembélé adding a composed third to seal the result. Mbappé’s brace also kept him in close pursuit of Lionel Messi in the tournament’s scoring race, intensifying their ongoing rivalry. With two wins from two, Didier Deschamps’ side now turn their focus to a decisive group showdown against Norway.