France vs Iraq Lineups & Formations Confirmed: Predictions for Today's World Cup 2026

Chris Beck

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France vs Iraq Lineups & Formations Confirmed: Predictions for Today's World Cup 2026

France vs Iraq Lineups & Formations Confirmed — World Cup 2026 Group I | FanDuel

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🏟️ TODAY 5:00 PM ET · LINCOLN FINANCIAL FIELD · PHILADELPHIA · FOX / TELEMUNDO

FIFA World Cup 2026 · Group I · Matchday 2 · Confirmed Lineups & Formations · All Odds FanDuel Sportsbook

France vs Iraq: Confirmed Lineups & Formations

France 4-2-3-1 · 3 changes from Senegal XI · Barcola, Kone, Digne all start · Mbappe leads · Iraq 4-4-2 · Al-Hamadi doubtful · Hussein starts · FanDuel: France -1500

Monday June 22, 2026 · All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook · Must be 21+

🇫🇷

France ML

-1500

Draw

+1200

France -2.5

-120

🇮🇶

Iraq ML

+3300

🔄 France: 3 Changes From Senegal XI — Consensus Sources: Al Jazeera · SI · Racing Post · Sports Mole · FanDuel Research

✅ IN: Bradley Barcola (LW) replaces Desire Doue ✅ IN: Manu Kone (DM) replaces Aurelien Tchouameni ✅ IN: Lucas Digne (LB) replaces Theo Hernandez

🇫🇷 France Starting XI — 4-2-3-1

Manager: Didier Deschamps · Sources: Al Jazeera, SI, Racing Post, Sports Mole, FanDuel Research — consensus 3 changes from Senegal XI · Verify official XI at kickoff

MBAPPE

ST · #10

DEMBELE

OLISE

CAM ⭐MoM

BARCOLA

LW 🆕

RABIOT

KONE

DM 🆕

KOUNDE

SALIBA

CB ⚠️

UPAMECANO

DIGNE

LB 🆕

MAIGNAN

GK · AC Milan

🆕 New vs Senegal XI ⭐ Man of Match vs Senegal ⚠️ Playing through minor pain

🇫🇷 France Starting XI — Player Notes & Key Roles

🥅 Mike Maignan · GK · AC Milan

France's first choice. Solid in goal vs Senegal. Expected to have a quieter game here given Iraq's limited attacking threat after the 63rd minute vs Norway. Iraq's only WC goal came from a set piece sequence — Maignan will be alert to corners and free kicks.

Jules Kounde · RB · Barcelona

First-choice right back. Overlapping runs support Dembele's attacking play on the right. Key to France's wide attacking structure against Iraq's narrow 4-4-2.

William Saliba · CB · Arsenal ⚠️ Minor Niggles

Yahoo Sports: "Saliba has admitted he has been playing through pain in order to make this summer's tournament." Expected to start but may be rested vs Norway if France qualify today. Iraq's Al-Hamadi and Hussein are unlikely to seriously test him.

Dayot Upamecano · CB · Bayern Munich

Partners Saliba at CB. Physically dominant pairing. France's defensive record (0 clean sheets in 6) is a concern but Iraq's attack is the weakest they'll face in the tournament.

Lucas Digne · LB · Aston Villa

🆕 IN for Hernandez

SI: "Reports suggest Theo Hernandez could drop out of the lineup for Aston Villa's Digne, as Deschamps experiments with his backline." Racing Post confirms the change. Digne is France's primary dead-ball left-footed delivery option from the left side.

Adrien Rabiot · DM · Manchester Utd

Retained from the Senegal XI after an impressive showing including an assist. RotoWire: Rabiot provides defensive cover and drives forward from deep. His late runs into the box at +275 anytime make him a long-odds scorer option.

Manu Kone · DM · Real Madrid

🆕 IN for Tchouameni

SI: "25-year-old Koné will make his World Cup debut if given the go-ahead over Aurélien Tchouaméni." LWOF: Tchouameni "didn't train before this one and is expected to miss out as a precaution." Kone partners Rabiot in the double pivot, providing energy and press resistance.

Ousmane Dembele · RW · PSG

Ballon d'Or winner. Shifts to RW today after playing more centrally vs Senegal. Sports Mole: "Dembélé is likely to start on the right and Olise in the central playmaker role, as this worked well in the second half." 1v1 threat against Iraq's left back. FD anytime: -110.

Michael Olise · CAM · Bayern Munich ⭐ Man of Match vs Senegal

FanDuel Research explicit value pick at +140 anytime / +550 first goal. RotoWire: primary FK taker (5/game). Racing Post: scored a hat-trick in France's Northern Ireland warm-up. In the No.10 CAM role against Iraq's 4-4-2 low block, he arrives late into scoring positions repeatedly. Man of the Match vs Senegal: 1 assist, 2/2 shots on target, 4 chances created.

Bradley Barcola · LW · PSG

🆕 IN for Doue · scored vs Senegal

Al Jazeera: "Deschamps is set to make a few small tweaks for this game, with Barcola set to start after coming off the bench against Senegal." Scored within 2 minutes of coming on vs Senegal. Starting today = significantly more attacking involvement. FD: +110 anytime / +475 first goal.

⭐ Kylian Mbappe · ST · Real Madrid · France Captain

58 international goals (France all-time record). 14 World Cup goals (4th all-time). France captain, primary penalty taker. 4 SoT and 2 goals vs Senegal. Chasing Messi and Klose's all-time WC record (16 goals). FD: -220 anytime / ~+210 first goal. FanDuel Research primary pick for both markets.

🪑 France Bench — Key Impact Options (Racing Post confirmed)

Rayan Cherki (AM · Man City) — set piece taker; creative sub Marcus Thuram (ST · Inter Milan) — impact striker sub for Mbappe; 20 Serie A goals 2025-26; FD -105 anytime Desire Doue (LW · PSG) — dropped to bench; started vs Senegal Maghnes Akliouche (Wide · Monaco) — FD +185 anytime / +750 first goal; bench scorer dart Jean-Philippe Mateta (ST · Crystal Palace) — FD +400 first goal / -115 anytime; striker cover Aurelien Tchouameni (DM · Real Madrid) — rested today (precaution); available from bench Theo Hernandez (LB · AC Milan) — rested; Digne covers LB today William Saliba note: may be rested 2nd half if France lead comfortably (nursing minor niggles)

🇮🇶 Iraq Starting XI — 4-4-2

Manager: Graham Arnold · Sources: RotoWire, Racing Post · ⚠️ Al-Hamadi doubtful · Ali Jasim available after knock vs Norway · Confirm at kickoff

A. HUSSEIN

CF · scored vs NOR

AL-HAMADI

CF ⚠️ DOUBT

BAYESH

AL-AMMARI

ISMAEL

QASEM

H. ALI

TAHSEEN

HASHEM

DOSKI

J. HASSAN

GK (or Basil)

⚠️ Al-Hamadi DOUBTFUL — if absent, Iraq's goal threat drops significantly Iraq's first WC since 1986

🇮🇶 Iraq Starting XI — Key Player Notes

Jalal Hassan · GK (or Ahmed Basil)

Al Jazeera: "Ahmed Basil could start in goal in place of Jalal Hassan." RotoWire lists Hassan as the projected starter. Either way, Iraq's GK faces France's elite attack — 4+ goals is the consensus projection.

Iraq Defence: Hussein Ali (RB) · Tahseen (CB) · Hashem (CB) · Doski (LB)

RotoWire confirmed defensive line. Iraq conceded 11 shots from inside the box to Norway (91.67% box shot rate) — the worst in the tournament. Against France's superior attack, this defensive unit faces an extreme challenge. Dembele vs Doski (LB) and Barcola vs Hussein Ali (RB) are the key 1v1 battles.

Iraq Midfield: Bayesh (RM) · Al-Ammari (CM) · Ismael (CM) · Qasem (LM)

Narrow 4-4-2 midfield designed to protect the box. Zaid Ismael is Iraq's primary defensive disruptor but has disciplinary issues — Racing Post: "three cards in just seven caps" and was booked vs Norway. Sports Mole: Zidane Iqbal (Man Utd) is pushing for a starting berth after coming on as sub vs Norway.

Aymen Hussein (CF) · Ali Al-Hamadi (CF ⚠️ DOUBTFUL)

Aymen Hussein scored Iraq's first WC goal since 1986 vs Norway — Iraq's primary and most dangerous attacking threat. FD: +650 anytime / +2500 first goal. Al-Hamadi (Luton Town, Iraq's top scorer) is listed as doubtful — if absent, Iraq's attacking options drop significantly. RotoWire lists him in the projected XI but notes the doubt.

🎯 Set Piece Takers — France

📋 France Set Piece Takers — RotoWire Confirmed

⭐ Corners & Free Kicks: Michael Olise (primary — 5 per game) Rayan Cherki (from bench) Ousmane Dembele Desire Doue (bench today) Maghnes Akliouche (bench) Kylian Mbappe (direct shots — 1 per game) Lucas Digne (left-side deliveries)

Olise as France's primary set piece taker is the critical betting detail. With 5 free kick deliveries per game and a hat-trick already in a Northern Ireland warm-up from dead-ball positions, any foul within 25 metres of goal opens a direct Olise shooting opportunity. His first goal price of +550 is directly tied to this set piece role — one direct free kick in a dangerous area and the bet cashes.

⚔️ Tactical Matchup — France 4-2-3-1 vs Iraq 4-4-2

Key Tactical Battles — France 4-2-3-1 vs Iraq Compact 4-4-2

Dembele vs Iraq LB Doski: Dembele's 1v1 pace cutting inside from RW — primary early goal creation route. Iraq's LB has no experience vs Ballon d'Or quality. FOX Sports: Dembele starts RW today (-110 anytime). Speed mismatch. Barcola vs Iraq RB H. Ali: Barcola starting LW from kick-off. His pace vs Iraq's right back creates the same mismatch. Scored within 2 mins of entering vs Senegal. Starting today = first 90 minutes of that threat. Olise vs Iraq's 4-4-2 Mid Block: Operating as No.10 CAM between Iraq's defensive and midfield lines. Iraq's 4-4-2 narrows centrally but leaves the No.10 pocket available. Olise's late runs into this space vs Norway's equivalent produced 0 shots after 63 minutes from Iraq. Iraq's only threat — Aymen Hussein vs France CBs: Hussein scored via a tap-in sequence vs Norway. France's high defensive line could leave space in behind for Hussein's runs. Sports Mole: "Iraq can take some comfort from scoring in nine of their last 11 fixtures." But France's Saliba-Upamecano CB pairing is significantly stronger than Norway's.

Sports Mole: "After a difficult first half against Senegal, the Bleus are expected to show more consistency this time. Dembélé is likely to start on the right and Olise in the central playmaker role, as this worked well in the second half." The same tactical setup that dismantled Senegal in the second half — Olise at No.10 pulling strings while Mbappe leads and Barcola/Dembele attack the channels — starts from minute one today.

France XI sources: Al Jazeera · SI · Racing Post · Sports Mole · FanDuel Research — consensus. Iraq XI: RotoWire projected. ⚠️ Al-Hamadi doubtful — verify at kickoff. These are predicted lineups. Official XI confirmed ~75 mins before kickoff.

FanDuel Sportsbook — World Cup 2026 Group I · France vs Iraq · 5:00 PM ET · Philadelphia

Bet France vs Iraq — All Markets

France -1500 · -2.5 -120 · Over 3.5 -124 · Mbappe -220 anytime · Olise +140 anytime (FD Research value)

Bet Now

All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook · Lineups predicted — official XI confirmed ~75 mins before kickoff · ⚠️ Al-Hamadi Iraq doubtful — verify · Must be 21+ · Play responsibly

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.

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