Kylian Mbappe will hope to fire France to another World Cup win as he starts against Iraq today.
The Real Madrid star netted a brace as Les Bleus opened their Group I account with a dramatic 3-1 win over Senegal in New Jersey last week.
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Those goals took Mbappe to 14 for his career at the World Cup finals, bringing him within two of the all-time record that is now shared by Miroslav Klose and Lionel Messi, the latter of whom is in action for Argentina against Austria in Group J in Dallas on Monday.
France will be hoping that star defender William Saliba holds up as he starts against Iraq in Philadelphia.
The Arsenal centre-back has admitted that he has been playing through pain in order to make this summer’s tournament, where France are hoping to win back the trophy they lost to Argentina in Qatar four years ago.
“I’ve had some minor niggles for several months,” Saliba said. “I’ve been gritting my teeth because there was the Champions League and the Premier League. But the coaching staff are handling it very well.
“The World Cup comes round only once every four years, so you’ve got to grit your teeth.”
“I’m not at 100 per cent, but there are plenty of players who aren’t at 100 per cent either. You can’t make excuses.”
That will leave France boss Didier Deschamps - and Arsenal counterpart Mikel Arteta - sweating, after the defender’s long campaign that saw him win the Premier League title and reach the Champions League final with his club.
Saliba started France’s opener against Senegal alongside Dayot Upamecano, and that is the case again in the clash with an Iraq team who were beaten 4-1 by Norway.
At full-back, Jules Kounde starts but Theo Hernandez is rested.
In midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni also takes a breather. A front four of Michael Olise, Bradley Barcola, Ousmane Dembele, and Mbappe is named.
France XI: Maignan, Digne, Upamecano, Kounde, Saliba, Kone, Rabiot, Dembele, Mbappe, Olise, Barcola
Subs: Samba, Risser, Gusto, Konate, L. Hernandez, T. Hernandez, Lacroix, Tchouameni, Kante, Zaire-Emery, Cherki, Akliouche, Thuram, Doue, Mateta
Time and date: 10pm BST on Monday June 22, 2026
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium
How to watch: BBC
