Kylian Mbappe is preparing for a landmark night, as the France captain is set to earn a 100th cap and continue a World Cup goals chase when France face
Iraq in Philadelphia, with qualification for the round of 32 on the line for Les Bleus.
France sit second in Group I behind Norway and will move close to the knockout stage with victory against Iraq. They are also aiming to win their first two matches at a World Cup for the fourth tournament in a row, extending a consistent modern record.
Mbappe recently became France’s leading scorer in the 3-1 win over Senegal, scoring twice to move to 58 international goals and overtake Olivier Giroud. That match also took Mbappe’s World Cup tally to 14, giving the forward another target as tournament records come into view.
The 27-year-old is already just the third France player to score in three separate World Cup editions, having found the net in 2018, 2022 and 2026. Mbappe now trails only Lionel Messi and Miroslav Klose, who both have 16 goals, and Ronaldo, who sits on 15.
Argentina meet Austria earlier on 23 June, so Messi could become the outright World Cup top scorer before France kick off. Mbappe still has the chance to close the gap, and the France captain remains determined to keep pressure on the leaders if chances fall in Philadelphia.
Looking ahead to the Iraq match and the 100-cap mark, Mbappe underlined the personal and collective stakes involved in the occasion, stressing that advancing from the group is the main objective while also recognising the scale of his own international milestones and scoring pursuits.
"It is always a pleasure to have the chance to play for your country, Mbappe told reporters. There is nothing biggerone hundred is a historic figure, and to have the chance to reach that tally here at a World Cup means it will be a special match for me. The importance and the stakes of the match are what really matter, and we need a win to go through. "
Notre capitaine a un message pour vous pic.twitter.com/jZbMQ2NZyCEquipe de France (@equipedefrance) June 19, 2026
Mbappe is closing in on head coach Didier Deschamps in France’s all-time appearance list. Deschamps played 103 times for Les Bleus, and Mbappe will become the 10th player to reach at least 100 caps for France when stepping out against Iraq in Group I.
"I am aware of what it means to be at a World Cup here and representing over 67 million French people. I just want to go down in history for my country. I think a lot of players, given the stakes of a World Cup, don't fully enjoy it, but I just try to enjoy it. I know how lucky I am. "
"I know I have the quality, but you still need to go out and show it on the biggest stage at a World Cup, and I don't think a double in the first game is enough to show the full extent of my talent. "
| Player | Country | World Cup goals |
|---|---|---|
| Lionel Messi | Argentina | 16 |
| Miroslav Klose | Germany | 16 |
| Ronaldo | Brazil | 15 |
| Kylian Mbappe | France | 14 |
France’s current campaign continues a strong recent pattern at World Cups, as Les Bleus again start fast while chasing deep progress. For Mbappe, the Iraq match offers another chance to add to national and tournament records while helping France move closer to another knockout appearance.
