France demonstrated why they were considered one of the favourites before the tournament by defeating Senegal 3-1 in their opening Group I encounter last week.

All eyes were on Kylian Mbappe, and the Real Madrid star delivered in style, scoring twice to become France’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Next up for Les Bleus is Iraq, who will be seeking redemption after suffering a 4-1 loss to Norway, with Erling Haaland netting a brace in that match.

With France aware that a win would secure their place in the knockout rounds, they will be keen to avoid any mistakes before their final group stage fixture against Norway. Iraq, on the other hand, will hope to produce an upset that could revive their campaign.

The referee appointed for this Group I contest is Drew Fischer. This will mark Fischer’s first-ever appearance as a referee in a World Cup match.

The 45-year-old Canadian official has been on FIFA’s list since 2015. Most of his refereeing career has been in Major League Soccer (MLS), where he earned recognition as the league’s Referee of the Year in both 2024 and 2025.

Fischer’s experience also extends to the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the Gold Cup, and he served as a Video Match Official during the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar.

Assisting Fischer on the touchlines will be Canadian compatriots Micheal Barwegen and Lyes Arfa.

Swiss referee Sandro Schärer will act as the fourth official for the match in Philadelphia, supported by his fellow countryman Stephane De Almeida as the reserve official.

In the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, American official Joseph Dickerson will take charge, with Uruguayan Antonio Garcia serving as his assistant.

Adding a potential complication, weather forecasts suggest thunderstorms in the Philadelphia area, which could prompt the match officials to activate FIFA’s severe weather protocols, possibly delaying the fixture.