France kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Senegal in their Group I opener, thanks to a second-half masterclass from captain Kylian Mbappé.
Despite dominating much of the possession, France were made to work hard by a spirited Senegal side that squandered several clear-cut opportunities in the opening half at the New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford.
Senegal nearly stunned the former world champions early on when Nicolas Jackson struck the post, while Ismaila Sarr missed a golden chance from close range as the African side repeatedly exposed France’s defence.
The match remained goalless at halftime, with France struggling to find their rhythm against a disciplined Senegal outfit.
However, Didier Deschamps’ men emerged stronger after the break and eventually found the breakthrough in the 66th minute through Mbappé. The French skipper finished clinically to score his first goal of the tournament after earlier being denied a penalty despite a VAR review.
France continued to push forward and doubled their advantage in the 82nd minute through substitute Bradley Barcola. The Paris Saint-Germain winger latched onto an incisive through ball from Adrien Rabiot before delicately chipping goalkeeper Edouard Mendy to make it 2-0.
Senegal refused to give up and pulled a goal back deep into stoppage time through 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye. The teenager produced a brilliant solo effort, weaving past defenders before smashing his shot into the roof of the net to briefly revive Senegal’s hopes.
Any thoughts of a dramatic comeback were immediately extinguished as Mbappé responded moments later with a thunderous strike from distance to restore France’s two-goal cushion and seal the victory at 3-1.
The brace not only secured all three points for France but also elevated Mbappé further up the list of the World Cup’s all-time leading scorers. The French star now has 13 World Cup goals, drawing level with Lionel Messi’s tally while reaching the milestone in significantly fewer matches.
France’s depth proved decisive, with substitutes making a major impact in the closing stages as Les Bleus moved to the top of Group I after the opening round of matches.
For Senegal, the result will be a source of frustration after a promising first-half display in which they created enough chances to take control of the contest. Their inability to convert those opportunities ultimately proved costly against a French side boasting one of the tournament’s most lethal attacks.
France will now look to build on the victory in their next Group I fixture, while Senegal must quickly regroup as they seek to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Clinical second half seals France win over Senegal in Group I World Cup clash
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