France commenced its participation in the 2026 World Cup with a match against Iraq, resulting in a goal scored by Kylian Mbappé. This goal marks Mbappé’s 15th World Cup goal and occurred during his 100th international appearance. The match raised questions about whether Mbappé could replicate Erling Haaland’s recent scoring performance against Iraq, having scored twice in a previous encounter. Furthermore, observers are noting Mbappé’s progress towards potentially surpassing Lionel Messi on the all-time international goalscorers list. The game began at 11 PM local time, with significant attention focused on Mbappé’s performance and his pursuit of records. This opening match sets the stage for France’s campaign in the tournament.