France 3–0 Iraq: Mbappé's Brace Ties All-Time World Cup Record After Storm Delay

The 3-0 win gave France six points in Group I, ensuring advancement to the knockout stage with one group match remaining .

The Two-Hour Storm Delay

The match was interrupted by a severe thunderstorm that caused a two-hour delay at halftime . Heavy rain and lightning forced the grounds crew to squeegee water off the Kentucky bluegrass field at Lincoln Financial Field . Stadium scoreboard messages directed fans to take shelter inside the concourses and covered areas . Fans wrapped themselves in ponchos and huddled under balconies as sheets of rain fell . The first half ended 1-0 after Mbappé's 14th-minute goal, and play resumed after the storm passed, making the entire event nearly four hours long . This was the first rain-related interruption of the tournament .

Mbappé's Brace and the All-Time World Cup Goalscoring Standings

Mbappé's two goals brought his career World Cup total to 16 (4 in 2018, 8 in 2022, 4 in 2026 so far) . He now sits in a tie for second-most men's World Cup goals of all time.

As of June 22–23, 2026, the top of the men's all-time World Cup goalscoring leaderboard looked like this :

The same day, Lionel Messi scored a brace against Austria to surpass both Klose's men's record (16) and Marta's overall World Cup record (17), setting an outright all-time mark of 18 goals across men's and women's World Cups .

Key Takeaways on the Record Race

• Mbappé tied Klose for second place: His 15th and 16th goals moved him past Ronaldo Nazário (15) and into a tie with Miroslav Klose .
• Messi became the all-time leader: With 18 goals, Messi now holds the outright record for most World Cup goals scored by any player, men's or women's .
• Two goals separate Mbappé from Messi: Mbappé is now just two goals behind Messi for the all-time lead, with knockout rounds still ahead in the 2026 tournament .

What This Means Going Forward

France, one of the pre-tournament favorites, looks poised for a deep run, and Mbappé has four goals through two group-stage matches . With potential knockout matches still to play, the 27-year-old French captain has a clear path to challenge Messi's record before the tournament ends .