The France national team secured a thrilling victory over Senegal at MetLife Stadium in their opening match of Group I at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The first half was clearly dominated by the Teranga Lions. Ismaïla Sarr squandered two clear-cut scoring opportunities, while France’s captain Kylian Mbappé was completely isolated, touching the ball just 14 times—fewer than any other player on the pitch.
A Thrilling Second-Half Comeback
The momentum shifted dramatically in the second half as Les Bleus pressed forward. In the 66th minute, Michael Olise delivered a brilliant pass to Mbappé, who expertly slotted home the opening goal.
As Senegal pushed for an equalizer, French substitute Bradley Barcola exploited the gaps in the African side’s defense, netting the second goal in the 81st minute.
Late Drama and Mbappé’s Final Blow
In the dying minutes of the game, Senegal’s substitute Ibrahima Mbaye revived his team’s hopes. After a spectacular dribble past Théo Hernandez, he unleashed a powerful strike that beat Mike Maignan to reduce the deficit.
However, Mbappé ensured there would be no late upset. In the 96th minute, the Real Madrid superstar received the ball on the edge of the penalty box and fired an unstoppable rocket into the net to seal the win. This goal marked his 14th career World Cup goal.
France will next face Iraq on Tuesday, June 23, before concluding their group stage campaign in a highly anticipated clash against Erling Haaland’s Norway on Friday, June 26.
