Pakistan, June 23 -- France defeated Iraq 3-0 in a World Cup group match on Monday, with Kylian Mbappe scoring twice. The win secured France's place in the knockout stage and confirmed their progression to the last 32. The result matters as it strengthens France's title push while ending Iraq's hopes of automatic qualification.

Mbappe led the attack in his 100th international appearance and delivered a dominant performance for France. He scored a long-range opener before converting a simple second goal after a defensive mistake. Ousmane Dembele added a third goal as France maintained full control of the match.

The game was heavily disrupted by thunderstorms that delayed the second-half restart for nearly two hours. Players and officials...