**Malo Gusto made his first FIFA World Cup appearance as France beat Iraq 3-0 in Philadelphia to secure their place in the last 32 with one Group I match still to play.**
The Chelsea right-back was introduced in the second half on Monday night after a disrupted contest that was suspended at half-time because of severe weather. France had already taken control before the delay, then finished the job once play resumed to move safely into the knockout phase.
For Gusto, this was the significant Chelsea detail. The 23-year-old had travelled to North America as part of Didier Deschamps’ squad after a strong club season, but this was his first taste of World Cup football. His minutes came after Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele had helped France put Iraq away, with [Chelsea’s official update confirming the defender’s tournament debut](https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/world-cup-france-go-through-on-gustos-tournament-debut).
Gusto Gets His Moment As France Build Momentum
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The timing matters for Chelsea because Gusto is now active in the tournament rather than simply waiting behind Jules Kounde in the right-back queue. France’s place in the round of 32 is already secure, so Friday’s final group game against Norway could give Deschamps room to manage legs and test options.
That makes Gusto’s introduction more than a late footnote. It puts him into the rhythm of a World Cup campaign before the knockouts begin, while Chelsea can watch one of their key defenders gain tournament minutes without being overloaded.
The weather delay added a strange edge to the night, but the football outcome was clean: France won, progressed, and Gusto finally stepped onto the World Cup stage.