World Cup 2026: Manu Kone shines for France against Iraq as Roma future remains unclear

France midfielder Manu Kone delivered an assured performance on his first World Cup start as Les Bleus cruised to a 3-0 victory over Iraq in Philadelphia, further strengthening his growing reputation ahead of a potentially pivotal summer.

The 25-year-old was handed a place in Didier Deschamps’ starting lineup for the Group I encounter and repaid that faith with a composed display in the heart of midfield. Kone played the full 90 minutes as France secured qualification for the knockout stages, helping control the tempo of the game despite a lengthy weather interruption at half-time.

According to match statistics, Kone completed 92 percent of his passes and maintained an impressive 91 percent accuracy in the opposition half, underlining his influence on France’s ball progression and control.

Speaking after the victory, the Roma midfielder said he was always prepared for his opportunity.

“Being in the starting lineup wasn’t a surprise to me. I always told myself to be ready. It happened, and I’m proud. We won, and that’s the most important thing.”

Koné also reflected on the severe weather delay that suspended the match for more than two hours during the interval.

“It seemed endless, but we remained professional. We told ourselves we had to come back with the same mentality. It was a long wait, but we responded well.”

France eventually resumed where they had left off before the storm, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice and Ousmane Dembélé adding another goal to seal a comfortable victory. The result maintained Les Bleus’ perfect start to the tournament and confirmed their place in the knockout rounds.

While Kone’s stock continues to rise on the international stage, uncertainty remains over his club future.

Roma are reportedly under pressure to balance their finances before the end of June, leading to speculation that one of their prized assets could be sold during the transfer window. Atletico Madrid have been strongly linked with the French international, while interest from several Premier League clubs has also been reported.

Recent reports suggest Atletico Madrid have explored a potential move, while Arsenal have also been credited with interest in the midfielder. However, Kone has previously indicated that he is fully focused on the World Cup and does not intend to discuss his future until after the tournament.

For now, the midfielder’s attention remains firmly on helping France challenge for another World Cup crown. If his performance against Iraq is any indication, Deschamps may find it difficult to leave him out of the starting lineup as the competition enters its decisive stages.