The Football Faithful
·22 giugno 2026
France vs Iraq – Predicted lineup and team news

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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·22 giugno 2026

France and Iraq continue their World Cup journey as they face off in a Round 2 match on Monday at Philadelphia Stadium.
France come into this fixture in very strong form, having won five of their last six matches. They opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Senegal. In the build-up friendlies, they recorded a high-scoring 3-3 result against Northern Ireland and suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast. With Kylian Mbappé in excellent scoring form, the French side looks sharp, confident, and fluid in attack.
There is more positive news for France, as Didier Deschamps has a fully fit squad available for selection ahead of this game.
Defender Malo Gusto has recovered completely from a minor ankle injury sustained in training and is now ready to feature if needed.
Although Deschamps usually prefers consistency in his starting lineup, a few slight adjustments could be made to manage player fitness.
Lucas Digne is widely expected to start at left-back, potentially replacing Theo Hernandez. In midfield, Manu Koné is likely to be paired with Adrien Rabiot to provide balance and control.
Kylian Mbappé will once again lead the attack, aiming to build on his excellent performance in the opening match, where he scored twice against Senegal.
France appear strong, quick, and well-prepared as they push to secure qualification for the next round.
Possible France starting XI: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Rabiot, Kone; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe
The match will kick off at 10pm BST on Monday, 22nd June.







































