The Iraq national football team faces France in the FIFA World Cup 2026, aiming to secure qualification to the knockout stages. Didier Deschamps, the French team's manager, stated that the upcoming match against Iraq holds strategic importance beyond just three points. He added that Iraq is not just a passing opponent, but a team that has proven its worth by qualifying in Mexico at the expense of Bolivia, and possesses a notable competitive solidity. Their friendly draw with Spain and strong performance against Norway testify to their technical maturity. They have a clear playing identity and tactical discipline, and their players have a good technical reading of the game. Deschamps explained that changes are not prohibited, but the ultimate goal remains to achieve victory and snatch the qualifying ticket from this second match. Everyone has recovered well, and this does not prevent re-examining some options. Regarding Ousmane Dembélé's performance in the opening match against Senegal, Deschamps commented that there is always pressure on prominent players, and the matter requires internal discussion. He struggled in the first half, as did the team, due to Senegal's strong defensive performance and some technical errors on their part. He added that Dembélé plays as a pure striker in Paris Saint-Germain, but his role here is different. His reactions are natural, and they made some adjustments that helped him appear better in the second half, in addition to his interaction with his teammates. He pointed out that Senegal closed the spaces in the middle of the field, and they were densely positioned there. But when they managed to expand the playing field and disrupt the positioning of their defenders, the space was liberated for them. Regarding Dembélé's physical fitness, he added that he has overcome the phase of irregularity, and played almost ten key matches in the French league. He does not suffer from any muscular discomfort. He went through a season that was not consistent, but his management in Paris Saint-Germain was calculated. Nothing hinders him, and he just needs to play with more freedom. And he is confident that his level will gradually improve. About the gains from the Senegal match, he said that the ability to score and pressure despite their decline in the first half. They will continue to work on that, with the necessary adjustments to enhance effectiveness and offensive danger. He also talked about the weather conditions, saying that they expected the heat, which has indeed occurred. In case of rain, it would provide a better ground. Physical fitness is affected by the heat, and they witnessed heavy rains in Boston, but they will not complain. Any decrease in temperature would be welcome. Deschamps concluded his statements by saying that they will exert their utmost effort to secure qualification. The third match will be decisive in the group standings, and after that, their priorities and vision for the rest of the journey will change. But the most important thing is to deal with each match in itself with full concentration.