France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq left more than just a positive result. After a delay of more than two hours caused by severe storms in Philadelphia, Kylian Mbappé openly expressed his frustration when play resumed.
The France captain criticized the condition of the pitch, which he felt was unevenly treated after the interruption. According to Mbappé, maintenance crews spent most of their efforts working on the side defended by France, while the area where the team was attacking remained heavily affected by water.
Mbappé Questions Pitch Conditions
“The side where we were attacking was completely waterlogged. They spent 20 minutes cleaning the side where we were defending but not the side where we were attacking,” the French forward explained after the match.
However, Mbappé quickly softened his comments and made it clear that he did not blame the stadium staff. The Real Madrid star acknowledged that the extreme weather conditions had made the job exceptionally difficult for the organizers. He explained that he simply wanted both halves of the pitch to receive the same amount of attention and added, “It’s not their fault, it’s not a big deal.”
Mbappe playing his part as groundskeeper #FIFAWorldCup #FRAIRQ pic.twitter.com/4LOTFt6UVk
— 90 Proof Picks (@90ProofPicks) June 22, 2026
Despite the difficult conditions, France handled the restart perfectly. Mbappé scored twice while Ousmane Dembélé also found the net, securing a comfortable victory and booking France’s place in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
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