France commenced its participation in the 2026 World Cup with a match against Iraq, resulting in an early lead secured by Kylian Mbappé. The goal marked Mbappé’s 15th World Cup goal and notably occurred during his 100th international appearance for France. This achievement places him in contention with Lionel Messi on the all-time international goalscorers list. Pre-match speculation centered on whether Mbappé could replicate Erling Haaland’s recent performance of scoring twice against Iraq. The game began at 11 PM local time, with observers keenly watching Mbappé’s performance and potential impact on the tournament’s scoring charts. The match represents the start of France’s qualifying journey for the 2026 World Cup.