Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterFrance lived up to their pre-tournament billing when they dispatched Senegal 3-1 in their opening Group I clash last week.The spotlight had firmly been on Kylian Mbappe and the Real Madrid man did not disappoint, scoring twice to claim top spot in France's all-time leading goalscorer list.Next up for Les Blues is an Iraq side were left licking their wounds after Erling Haaland netted twice in a 4-1 victory for Norway in their opening clash.Play our FREE match predictor and win �1kWho is the referee for New Zealand vs Egypt?Kick-off is set for 4pm local time (10pm UK time) at Philadelphia Stadium, in the United States.With France knowing that a win will seal a place in the knockouts, they will want to ensure there are no slip-ups ahead of their final group stage match against Nroway, while Iraq will be looking for a shock result that would reignite their hopes of progression. You may like Who is the referee for France vs Senegal? Who are the BBC commentators, pundits and presenters for France vs Iraq? How to watch France vs Iraq for FREE The referee for this match will be Drew Fischer, who will be taking charge of his first-ever World Cup match.The 45-year-old from Canada has been a FIFA referee since 2015, with the majority of his career so far being spent in the MLS, where he was named the league's Referee of the Year in 2024 and 2025.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.Fischer has also been a regular presence at the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the Gold Cup and was also a Video Match Official at the 2022 World Cup on Qatar.Running the lines for Fischer will be fellow Cannucks Micheal Barwegen and Lyes Arfa.Swiss whistle-merchant Sandro Schrer will be the fourth official in Philadelphia, with his compatriot Stephane De Almeida as the reserve.Up in the VAR booth, it will be American Joseph Dickerson.He will be assisted by Uruguayan official Antonio Garcia.One extra wrinkle to this evening's clash is that forecasted storms in the Philadelphia region may cause the match officials to trigger FIFA's bad weather protocols and delay the match.TOPICSFranceWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Joe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.
