France and Iraq meet on 22 June 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia for their second Group I fixture at the FIFA World Cup. Having beaten Senegal 3-1 with clinical finishing and midfield control, France arrive in a strong position to secure early qualification, while Iraq are searching for their first World Cup points in 40 years after a 4-1 opening loss to Norway.
There is no managerial head to head history between Deschamps and Arnold, who have never met at senior level. Deschamps is going out on his own terms in what is his final tournament in charge of France, while Arnold only took the Iraq job in May 2025.
France have won four of their last five across qualifiers and warm up matches, whereas the 4-1 opening loss to Norway showed that Norway's press created problems Iraq's backline had not seen in qualifying.
France are clean on the injury front, with Saliba having completed ninety minutes in the opener despite a minor back issue and Barcola, Cherki and Mateta as rotation options if Deschamps wants to manage his squad with an eye on the Norway fixture. Iraq are in good health too, with Ali Jasim available after an awkward fall, though what Zidane Iqbal can bring that the current midfield configuration lacks will be the more interesting question for Arnold.
Deschamps typically sets up in a 4-2-3-1 or a hybrid 4-3-3 built around high pressing, quick combinations and defensive shape, whereas Arnold will ask Iraq to sit in a structured defensive block. The midfield matchup, Tchouaméni and Rabiot against Al-Ammari and Bayesh, will shape where the tempo lives. Mbappé faces centre backs Tahseen and Sulaka who will have done their homework but his pace and finishing are the kind of problem no preparation fully solves. Hussein and Jasim, meanwhile, will need to find ways to test Saliba and Upamecano when France's full backs push into the final third.
France have shown aerial danger from corners and free kicks and Iraq's organisation there will be tested throughout. Their motivation is not in question: their first World Cup in four decades is not nothing. But the 4-1 loss to Norway already showed where the gap sits and France, with the squad depth to rotate without weakening, are well placed to make it two wins from two.
France 2-1 Iraq. Mbappé finds the net again, Dembélé or Olise creates a second and Iraq grab a late one through a counter or set piece.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
