France is expected to make only slight adjustments to its lineup ahead of its second Group I match against Iraq at the 2026 World Cup, as coach Didier Deschamps looks to maintain momentum while securing qualification to the knockout stages. The match is scheduled for Monday in Boston.

Les Bleus began their tournament with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in New York, highlighted by Kylian Mbappe’s two goals. A win against Iraq would guarantee France a place in the tournament’s last 32. Deschamps, known for favoring continuity in major competitions, appears poised to continue this approach despite having considerable depth in his squad.

While France showed occasional defensive lapses against Senegal, their performance after halftime demonstrated a level of control and quality that convinced Deschamps to avoid major changes to the starting lineup. Nonetheless, some minor modifications are anticipated, particularly on the left side. Bradley Barcola is expected to replace Desire Doue in attack, while Lucas Digne could come in for Theo Hernandez at left back. There is also a possibility of a change in midfield, with Deschamps having recently held extended discussions with Manu Kone. The 25-year-old midfielder trained alongside Adrien Rabiot during the week and may earn a starting berth.

The core of the team that impressed in the opener—including Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Ousmane Dembele—will likely remain intact. While the primary goal is to secure advancement, the upcoming match also offers Deschamps the chance to assess alternative options without disturbing the team’s overall rhythm.

Iraq, meanwhile, enters the game after a 4-1 loss to Norway and must secure points to keep their hopes of advancing alive. The Iraqi side faces a challenging task against a French team that has reached the past two World Cup finals and is determined to avoid any early setbacks on U.S. soil.

French center back William Saliba, who is currently managing back pain, emphasized the need for focus ahead of the match. “We’ve watched some of the videos from their game against Norway and I think they have a good team,” Saliba said at a press conference on Saturday. “It won’t be easy, even if people think that because we’re playing Iraq we’ll automatically get the three points.”