France vs Iraq Predictions & Picks: Who Will Win Today's World Cup Match?

James Eastham – Betting Analyst at Covers.com
James Eastham • Betting Analyst 21+ years betting experience
Updated: Jun 22, 2026 , 01:59 PM ET • 4 min read

France continue to score at will against Iraq.

France vs. Iraq Predictions, Kylian Mbappe France World Cup
Photo By - Reuters Connect. France's Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring their third goal with Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, Rayan Cherki, William Saliba and Michael Olise.

France topped the World Cup odds following their resounding win over Senegal, and they'll look to keep it that way in today's game against Iraq.

My France vs. Iraq predictions expect a blowout, with Michael Olise and Kylian Mbappe leading the charge.

Here are my World Cup picks for June 22, with kickoff scheduled for 5 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field.

Who will win France vs Iraq: France -2.5 (-120)

France have already shown they can win convincingly at this World Cup and will look to do so again in this match.

They started slowly before bursting into life in their opening game against Senegal, eventually winning 3-1. The fact that their attack played below its potential showed there's much more to come.

There are three strong reasons to believe France can overcome this 2.5-goal spread. The first is that Kylian Mbappe is chasing the Golden Boot. He scored twice against Senegal and will be determined to add more to his tally.

The second is that France have unrivalled depth in attack. They can add top-class technicians such as Rayan Cherki from the sidelines, ensuring their performance level stays high when their opponents fade in the closing stages.

The third is that Iraq look like a team that may tire. They conceded twice in the final 25 minutes of their 4-1 opening-game defeat vs. Norway. If they wilt similarly in this match, they'll be vulnerable against late French attacks. Back France -2.5 at anything up to -135.

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 TOp pick

France vs Iraq Over/Under pick: Over 3.5 (-102)

France can beat this line on their own, but both teams are capable of contributing to a high goal count. Their opening game against Senegal contained four goals, Iraq’s (vs. Norway) five. France scored three times, Iraq once.

Les Bleus managed eight attempts on target in their first match and will expect to do better on Monday. They have the potential to equal or better the tally of three goals they scored against Senegal.

Thanks to their top-tier attackers, France are one of the tournament’s most fancied sides, but defensively, they're far from watertight.

Their full-backs floundered against Senegal in New Jersey, a significant factor in Senegal scoring and hitting the post. France also conceded in their two pre-tournament friendlies, against Ivory Coast (1-2) and Northern Ireland (3-1).

Iraq lacked accuracy in their opening game vs. Norway, but still managed to score (1-4). Knowing that a second consecutive defeat may end their interest in the tournament, Iraq will be drawn into taking risks, and that is likely to lead to more chances. I'd play this to -105.

France vs Iraq goal scorer pick: Michael Olise (+100)

Michael Olise caught the eye of many by setting up Kylian Mbappe’s opener for France in their first game. The Bayern Munich star is my tip to score this time.

This is partly for positional reasons: rather than playing on the right wing, as he did against Senegal, Olise is expected to operate in the No. 10 position. The switch would see him get into scoring positions more easily and often.

He scored a hat-trick in France’s pre-tournament friendly win over Northern Ireland. If Iraq grant him similar space, the 24-year-old left-footer will be lethal as France look to go deeper into the World Cup bracket.

Mbappe is the obvious choice. I'd rather back Olise at +100 than Mbappe at -200.

See who will have the best opportunities to score goals in our World Cup set-piece takers guide.

France vs Iraq projected lineup

France (4-2-3-1): Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kone, Rabiot; Dembele, Olise, Barcola; Mbappe.
Iraq (4-4-2): Jalal Hassan; Ali, Hashim, Tahseen, Doski; Bayesh, Alammari, Ismail, Jasim; Alhamadi, Hussein.

France vs Iraq injuries

France: No key injuries to report.
Iraq: Alhamadi (Doubtful).

France vs Iraq weather

Temperatures of 80F to 84F are expected, with the potential for thunderstorms before and during the match.

France vs Iraq odds

France France Iraq Iraq
-1200 Moneyline +2500
+1000 Draw +1000
Over 3.5 (-102) Total Under 3.5 (-105)

Odds courtesy of Kalshi.

How to watch France vs Iraq

Check out FIFA's official 2026 World Cup website for more information.

Location Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
Date Monday, June 22, 2026
Time 5 p.m. ET
TV FOX

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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James Eastham
Betting Analyst

James Eastham has worked as a soccer betting writer and tipster for more than two decades, providing content for leading publications such as The Guardian, Betfair, and ESPN.

Based in France and the UK, his specialist areas of knowledge are the major European soccer leagues (France's Ligue 1, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga) and European club tournaments (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League). He also covers leading international competitions (World Cup, European Championship, Africa Cup of Nations) whenever they come around. He believes firmly in stake management, recording all bets, and a focus on long-term growth.

Alongside his betting content, he has worked as a features writer and interviewer for mainstream soccer print and online publications. For 10 years, he also worked as a talent scout, analyzing matches and players across Europe for professional soccer clubs.

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