GLORY is the only thing on the mind of a star-studded France side looking to nail down their spot in the next round this Monday night. Didier Deschamps’ 2018 World Cup champs know a solid performance here under the stateside lights will put them firmly in the driving seat of Group I.
Les Bleus lived up to their billing as tournament favourites in their opening fixture, safely brushing aside a dangerous Senegal side 3-1. Kylian Mbappé stole the headlines by scoring a magnificent second-half brace to become France’s all-time leading goalscorer on 58 goals, while substitute Bradley Barcola also found the back of the net to cap off a dominant, albeit nervy performance.
Iraq, meanwhile, face a daunting rescue mission after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat at the hands of Norway. Despite a bright spell where Aymen Hussein scored a powerful downward header from an Amir Al-Ammari cross to draw them level, a costly error from veteran keeper Jalal Hassan, dawdling over a back-pass, and a late collapse left the Asian outfit empty-handed.
With France ready to let fly and Iraq likely to park the bus to keep the score down, backing the heavy favourites to win big looks a safe shout. Luckily, new punters can bag £30 in Free Bets with Coral. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the opening whistle.
Coral World Cup free bets for France vs Iraq
Sign up before the match gets underway and you can secure a £30 free bet bundle when you wager just £5.
FeatureDetailsWelcome bonusGet £30 in Free BetsQualifying stakeMinimum £5Minimum odds1/2 (1.50) or greaterFree Bet split6 x £5 Free Bet TokensToken expiry7 Days from issue
The betting angle: Olise’s central spark set to exploit Iraqi defensive flaws
France will look to build on the tactical tweak that unlocked their attacking potential in the opening match. Deschamps’ decision to shift Michael Olise into a more central playmaking role proved to be the catalyst against Senegal, unbalancing the opposition and routinely unlocking Mbappé. The captain’s performance moved him to 14 career World Cup goals, leaving him just two shy of matching the tournament record currently shared by Lionel Messi and Miroslav Klose.
Iraq have to overhaul their defence if they are to survive in Pennsylvania. While Hussein’s movement showed they can carry a threat from set-pieces, their structural collapse against Norway was entirely self-inflicted. Stripping away those costly lapses in focus – such as Hassan’s slow decision-making on his goal line – will be paramount if they are to withstand a far more clinical frontline.
Given that Les Bleus seem to have found their rhythm after the interval and Iraq have already leaked four goals in their opening match, the facts point toward a difficult evening for the underdogs. Expect Olise’s sharp distribution in the pockets to routinely carve out opportunities, paving the way for Mbappé to spearhead a convincing victory as he chases tournament history.
Our tip: France to Win & Over 2.5 Goals
The longshot: France to win 3-0 & Kylian Mbappé to score first
How to claim your Coral welcome bonus
Click here to navigate to the Coral registration page.
Fill in your details to create a brand new, verified account.
Add a minimum of £5 to your wallet using a standard Debit Card. (Crucial Note: Initial deposits made via Neteller, PayPal, Paysafe, Skrill, or pre-payment cards will NOT qualify for this promotion).
Place a real-money sports wager of at least £5 on France vs Iraq at odds of 1/2 (1.50) or higher.
Once your qualifying wager is struck, Coral will credit your account with 6 x £5 free bets (split as 4 x generic sportsbook tokens, 1 x Football Bet Builder token, and 1 x Horse Racing Bet Builder token).
📺 How to watch France vs Iraq
Date: Monday, 22nd June, 2026
Kick-off: 10:00pm BST
Venue: Philadelphia Stadium, Pennsylvania
TV Channel: BBC One, BBC iPlayer
Highlights: BBC iPlayer, YouTube
Read more of our 2026 World Cup betting coverage
About the author
Craig Mahood
Craig Mahood is an expert in sports betting and online casinos and has worked with the company since 2020. He joined the Betting & Gaming team at The Jattvibe in June 2022 and works closely with the leading bookmakers and online gaming companies to provide content on all areas of sports betting and gaming. He previously worked as a Digital Sports Reporter at the Scottish Jattvibe, covering Scottish football with particular focus on Celtic and Rangers, As well as football, he has covered horse racing, boxing, darts, the Olympics and tennis for the Jattvibe.
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