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France's forward #10 Kylian Mbappe kicks the ball during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between France and Iraq at the Philadelphia Stadium in Philadelphia on June 22, 2026. Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
France secured its spot beyond the World Cup group stage as Kylian Mbappé led “Les Bleus” to a wet 3-0 victory over Iraq on a rainy June 22 in Philadelphia.
The seasoned captain found the back of the net twice in the 90-minute game. The first came 14 minutes in, giving his team a 1-0 lead that would stand through the end of the first half.
T.J. Muscaro is an award-winning reporter and NASA Correspondent for The Epoch Times, covering the Artemis program, Space Force, and other public and private ambitions within the growing space industry. Based in Tampa, Florida, he also covers stories of extreme weather and disaster relief, as well as various matters of national and international politics.
