The FIFA World Cup 2026 is now entering its final group stage matches, and this time France faces Iraq. This is a Group I match, and France is one of the strongest teams in this World Cup. They have the most talented players. While Iraq are the underdog team, they have some players who can create problems for any team. In this article, we discuss five players to watch in France vs Iraq.
Here are five players who could have the biggest impact on this match.
5. Ali Jasim (Iraq)
Ali Jasim is one of the most exciting young prospects in Iraq. He plays as a winger and is known for his fearless style he loves to take on defenders and drive forward with the ball. He’s not afraid to take chances, even against the tougher opponents.
Iraq will see very little of the ball in this game and so Jasim’s ability to make things happen on the counter-attack will be key. He can win free kicks in dangerous areas, play difficult passes and shoot from distance. He could be the man to take them if Iraq get only a few chances in a game.
4. Michael Olise (France)
Michael Olise has established himself as one of France’s most creative attacking players in recent years. The Bayern Munich forward had a superb 2025-26 club season and came into the World Cup in a rich vein of form.
What makes Olise stand out is that he can create chances from all sorts of areas of the pitch. He can whip in crosses from out wide, thread precise passes through tight defences or cut inside and shoot. In France’s first game versus Senegal, he demonstrated just how dangerous he can be. Iraq will likely defend in a deep and compact block but players like Olise are very good at breaking through that kind of set-up.
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3. Ayman Hussein (Iraq)
If Iraq has one player who can lead from the front and cause France real problems, it is Ayman Hussein. He is Iraq’s most important player and is widely regarded as one of the best strikers in Asian football.
Hussein is not just a goalscorer he is a complete centre-forward. He holds the ball up well, brings teammates into the game, and always finds a way to be involved. He has scored big goals for Iraq in qualifiers and major tournaments over the years, and his experience and leadership make him a vital figure both on and off the pitch.
2. Ousmane Dembele (France)
One of the hardest players to defend in world football is Ousmane Dembele. He is a player for Paris Saint-Germain and had perhaps the best season of his career in 2025-26, scoring and assisting many goals as PSG competed for top honours.
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Dembele is hard to stop because he is comfortable on both feet. He can run around defenders on the outside, cut inside to shoot, or make a crucial pass to a teammate. Because he is unpredictable, defenders have no idea what’s coming. The Frenchman was a vital member of his country’s squad that reached the final of the 2022 World Cup and has only improved since. His ability to find tiny pockets of space and create chances against a deep Iraq defence could be the difference.
1. Kylian Mbappe (France)
There is really only one player who could top this list. Kylian Mbappe is not just France’s captain he is one of the biggest stars at the entire 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid forward has had another outstanding season in Spain and arrived at this tournament as one of the favourites to win the Golden Boot.
Mbappe’s record at the World Cup is already extraordinary. He helped France win the 2018 title, won the Golden Boot at the 2022 tournament, and has consistently scored in the biggest matches of his career. Against Senegal, he wasted no time in getting on the scoresheet. Iraq’s defenders will have an extremely difficult task trying to stop him. At just in his mid-twenties, he is already one of the best players this tournament has ever seen.
Also Read: Argentina vs Austria: Top Five Players To Watch In FIFA World Cup 2026 Clash
