{"id":3885,"date":"2026-06-20T05:27:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-20T09:27:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/?post_type=news&p=3885"},"modified":"2026-06-20T05:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-20T09:27:07","slug":"match-preview-france-vs-iraq-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/ca\/news\/world-cup\/match-preview-france-vs-iraq-world-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"France vs Iraq: Predictions, Picks, Odds & Stats"},"content":{"rendered":"

France meet Iraq at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Monday, June 22 at 5:00 PM ET \/ 4:00 PM CT \/ 3:00 PM MT \/ 2:00 PM PT, with Didier Deschamps’ side a win away from sealing top spot in Group I of the World Cup 2026<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Our France vs Iraq prediction starts with a yawning gap on the talent ladder. France opened their tournament with a controlled 3-1 win over Senegal, Kylian Mbappe taking a brace and Michael Olise pulling the strings from the right. Iraq’s debut went the other way \u2014 a 4-1 thumping by Norway at Gillette Stadium that left Graham Arnold’s side bottom of the group and needing a miracle to keep their last-16 hopes breathing.<\/p>\n\n

The market reads the way you’d expect. bet365<\/a> has France at +108 (yes, the moneyline is sub-zero \u2014 read this as a heavy 1.08 decimal favourite), Iraq at +3300, and the draw at +900. The line on goals tells the same story: Over 2.5 sits at -225. Sportsbooks are pricing a France procession; the only honest questions are by how many and which French forward gets on the sheet first.<\/p>\n\n

France vs Iraq: Best Bets & Predictions<\/h2>\n\n

The play here is volume on France and the goal supply that comes with it. Mbappe is short, but the value sits in stacking a goalscorer leg with the totals market.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Our Prediction<\/th>Odds & Sportsbook<\/th>Confidence<\/th>Why We’re Backing It<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
France to Win<\/strong><\/td>+108 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(48%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>France beat Senegal 3-1 in their opener and are unbeaten in their last five competitive outings (W W W D W). Iraq shipped four against Norway and have lost on each of their three previous World Cup appearances after MD1 too.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Over 2.5 Goals<\/strong><\/td>-225 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(69%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>France averaged three goals across their last five and Iraq have shipped at least once in every match this calendar year. The Norway result (4-1) showed how thin the cover is when better opponents press them.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Kylian Mbappe<\/span> Anytime Goalscorer<\/strong><\/td>-200 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(67%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>Two goals and four shots on target against Senegal in MD1. Mbappe has scored in 14 of his last 18 starts for France and is the central piece in Deschamps’ attacking shape.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Correct Score: France 3-0<\/strong><\/td>+450 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(18%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>The shortest score line at the sportsbook is also the one France produced in qualifying against Azerbaijan and Ukraine. A clean sheet against an Iraq attack that managed one against Norway is plausible.<\/td><\/tr>\n
Both Teams to Score: No<\/strong><\/td>-300 @ bet365<\/strong><\/a>
(75%)<\/td>		\u2b50\u2b50\u2b50<\/td>Iraq managed a single goal against Norway and were shut out across three of their last five qualifiers. France allowed nothing to Ukraine or Azerbaijan in qualifying and Mike Maignan kept Senegal to a single penalty in MD1.<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

Our approach: lead with the France moneyline at +108, stack the Mbappe goalscorer leg, and consider Over 2.5 as a same-game add. The 3-0 correct score is the speculative leg if you want price.<\/p>\n\n

Odds correct at the time of writing. Please play responsibly.<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

World Cup Form & Standings<\/h2>\n\n

Group I after MD1 is shaped exactly as you’d expect. France took three points from Senegal; Iraq’s loss to Norway flashed warnings about how their back five copes against pace and a striker willing to attack the ball in the box.<\/p>\n\n

\n
Team<\/th>Pos<\/th>GP<\/th>W<\/th>D<\/th>L<\/th>GF<\/th>GA<\/th>GD<\/th>Pts<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
France<\/a><\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>3<\/td>1<\/td>+2<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr>\n
Iraq<\/a><\/td>4<\/td>1<\/td>0<\/td>0<\/td>1<\/td>1<\/td>4<\/td>-3<\/td>0<\/td><\/tr>\n<\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n

A win for France clinches Group I with a round to spare. For Iraq, only a victory keeps the round-of-32 maths alive \u2014 and even then they’re relying on Norway and Australia results going their way on the final matchday.<\/p>\n\n

Potential Match-Winners<\/h2>\n\n