World Cup favorite France could earn their place in the knockouts today.

Les Bleus will face Iraq in Matchday 2, six days after their tournament debut against Senegal.

France won its first game 3-1, thanks to a goal Bradley Barcola and two from captain Kylian Mbappé. A win today against Iraq will secure their place in the Round of 32, but where they’ll fall in the group won’t be determined until Matchday 3, when they face elite dark horse Norway and star Erling Haaland.

Though the Lions of Mesopotamia sit tied at the bottom of Group I (the “Group of Death” at this year’s World Cup), their fate won’t be determined until they face the other team currently sitting at the bottom of the group, Senegal, on Matchday 3.

Here’s everything you need to know about France’s second match of the 2026 World Cup.

France vs. Iraq time

Today’s (June 16) France vs. Iraq match at the World Cup is scheduled to kick off at 5 p.m. ET.

How to watch France vs. Iraq for free

If you don’t have cable or an antenna, you’ll need a live TV streaming service to stream the World Cup for free.

DIRECTV is our favorite service for watching sports live for free. Right now, you can take advantage of a five-day free trial before saving $30 on your first month. We recommend the Choice plan, which includes FOX, FS1 and Telemundo as part of its 125+ channels.

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More coverage on the 2026 FIFA World Cup

• Iran manager calls team World Cup’s ‘most oppressed,’ claims it’s being immediately sent back to Tijuana
• USMNT star’s World Cup status unclear after not being full practice participant
• Banned flags and a defiant crowd: Inside the World Cup’s most politically charged match
• Cape Verde’s 40-year-old goalie becomes World Cup sensation after stunning result vs. Spain

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France World Cup schedule

Date and time	Opponent	TV channel
June 16	Senegal (Result: France 3, Senegal 1)
June 22, 5 p.m. ET	Iraq (World Cup – Group I)	FOX
June 26, 3 p.m. ET	Norway (World Cup – Group I)	FOX

Iraq World Cup schedule

Date and time	Opponent	TV channel
June 16	Norway (Result: Norway 4, Iraq 1)
June 22, 5 p.m. ET	France (World Cup – Group I)	FOX
June 26, 3 p.m. ET	Senegal (World Cup – Group I)	FS1

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Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post

This article was written by Angela Tricarico, Commerce Streaming Reporter for Post Wanted Shopping, Page Six, and Decider.com. Angela keeps readers up to date with cord-cutter-friendly deals, and information on how to watch your favorite sports teams, TV shows, and movies on every streaming service. Not only does Angela test and compare the streaming services she writes about to ensure readers are getting the best prices, but she’s also a superfan specializing in the intersection of shopping, tech, sports, and pop culture. When she’s not writing about (or watching) TV, movies, and sports, she’s also keeping up on the underrated perfume dupes at Bath & Body Works and testing headphones. Prior to joining Decider and The New York Post in 2023, she wrote about streaming and consumer tech at Insider Reviews.

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