Will Kylian Mbappé start for France against Iraq? Final injury update ahead of historic 100th international appearance

ByTech Word News

France’s Kylian Mbappe applauds the fans at the end during the Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) France’s all-time top goalscorer is expected to make his 100th international appearance against Iraq, with Kylian Mbappé also closing in on several of the biggest goalscoring records in World Cup history.France head into their second Group I match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup knowing that victory over Iraq will secure qualification for the round of 32. But for Kylian Mbappé, the occasion carries an extra layer of meaning as he prepares to reach one of the most important milestones of his international career.The France captain is set to make his 100th appearance for Les Bleus when Didier Deschamps’ side take on Iraq at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The milestone comes less than a week after Mbappé became France’s all-time top goalscorer and added another remarkable achievement to his international career.While the official starting line-ups are not released until around an hour before kick-off, there are currently no fitness concerns surrounding the Real Madrid forward and both the player and the France camp have openly discussed the milestone in the build-up to the match. Mbappé himself addressed the occasion during pre-match media duties in France, leaving no doubt that he is expected to feature.“It’s always a great pleasure to get a chance to play for the national team. Nothing is bigger than the national team. A hundred is a milestone and it will be special for me, but the importance of the match will come first. We have to win to qualify.”The milestone comes with France well placed in Group I after opening their campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal, a game in which Mbappé scored twice. However, Les Bleus are three points clear of Norway, who started their tournament with an emphatic 4-1 win over Iraq and currently hold an exact three goal difference.

France wants to build on a strong start against Iraq

France opened their World Cup campaign with a dramatic 3-1 victory over Senegal in New Jersey, overcoming a difficult opening test to take control of their qualification hopes.Mbappé’s brace proved decisive, elevating him above Olivier Giroud as the top goalscorer in French men’s international football history. The two goals took him to 58 goals for France, beating Giroud’s previous record of 57 and setting a new standard for generations to come.The result also put France in a strong position heading into the meeting with an Iraqi side who suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opening game.Didier Deschamps has repeatedly emphasized that qualification remains the immediate goal.“The primary goal is to secure victory and qualification,” the France coach said. “We will think about the final order before our third game; one thing at a time.”Mbappé echoed this sentiment when discussing the challenge posed by Iraq.“We still have a long way to go; we’ve only won one game. It’s going to be tough tomorrow, but we’re on the right track. We can’t look too far ahead, we have to take each game as it comes.”A win would guarantee France a place in the knockout stages with one group stage match to play.

Significance 100th appearance in France

If Mbappé takes the field as expected, he will become only the tenth French player to reach 100 international caps.The achievement is remarkable especially given his age. Mbappé, still just 27, made his debut for France in 2017 as an 18-year-old and has amassed 99 caps and 58 goals at senior international level in less than a decade.Reaching 100 caps would make him one of the most important figures in French football history, with the 27-year-old expected to add significantly to that total.

France’s Kylian Mbappe (10) celebrates after scoring his third goal during the World Cup Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

The milestone could also prove to be just another step towards even bigger appearance records.Didier Deschamps, now coach of France, played 103 matches for the national team during his playing career. If France enjoy deep success at this tournament, Mbappé could potentially move past that figure before the end of the competition.Looking further ahead, goalkeeper Hugo Lloris remains France’s all-time leading scorer with 145 caps, a mark that looks increasingly within reach if Mbappé stays healthy and continues on his current trajectory.

The history of the World Cup is quickly gaining recognition

While the milestone appearance will dominate the pre-kick-off headlines, Mbappé also enters the match within touching distance of several all-time World Cup records.His two goals against Senegal took his World Cup tally to 14 goals.That tally puts him level with German legend Gerd Müller and just a handful of goals away from the most prolific goalscorers the tournament has ever produced.The current all-time World Cup leaderboard is remarkably crowded near the top:

  • Lionel Messi – 16 goals
  • Miroslav Klose – 16 goals
  • Ronaldo Nazário – 15 goals
  • Kylian Mbappé – 14 goals

The math is straightforward.A single goal against Iraq would take Mbappé to 15 goals and draw him level with Ronald Nazário.A tie would take him to 16 goals and tie Messi and Klose for the all-time top spot in the world scoring charts.The hat-trick would take him to 17 goals and become the sole record holder as the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history.With Mbappé still only 27 and potentially several World Cup games away from this tournament alone, the prospect of eventually owning the record outright seems increasingly real.

He already owns the tournament record

Regardless of what happens against Iraq, Mbappé already has one World Cup record unmatched by any player in history.The France captain holds the record for most goals scored in a World Cup final.As a teenager, he scored in France’s 4–2 win over Croatia in the 2018 final, before producing one of the most memorable individual performances in World Cup history during the 2022 final against Argentina, scoring a hat-trick despite France eventually losing on penalties.

France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his team’s opening goal during the Group I soccer match between France and Senegal in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Tuesday, June 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

No player can match those four goals in two separate World Cup finals.His overall work in the World Cup is equally extraordinary. Mbappé scored four goals during France’s triumphant 2018 campaign before adding eight goals at Qatar 2022, where he finished as the winner of the Golden Boot tournament. The two goals against Senegal have now taken their tally to 14.

First ever meeting between France and Iraq

Apart from Mbappé’s individual milestones, Monday’s contest will also be a historic event for both nations.France and Iraq have never met before in an official international match.According to French football records, it will be only the fourth time this century that Les Bleus have faced a completely new opponent at the World Cup.The previous examples evoked mixed memories. France lost 1-0 to Senegal in 2002 before beating Togo 2-0 in 2006 and Honduras 3-0 in 2014.Deschamps will be hoping that this final first-leg encounter can produce another positive result and remove any qualification uncertainty ahead of the final group stage game.For Mbappé, meanwhile, the evening offers an opportunity to celebrate a century of international appearances while closing in on some of the most prestigious records in football history.