Mbappé Scores Twice as France Defeat Senegal 3-1 in World Cup Opener
France began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on a winning note after securing a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Senegal in their opening Group I match at the New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Punch reports that Kylian Mbappé scored a brace as France overcame Senegal in a dramatic encounter that produced late goals and plenty of excitement. The match also revived memories of Senegal’s famous 1-0 victory over France during the opening game of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, one of the biggest upsets in tournament history.
However, here’s what we found out: unlike the 2002 encounter, France eventually found a way to break down Senegal’s disciplined defense and avoid another shock result. After a cautious first half in which both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances, the game opened up significantly after the break.
Mbappé finally gave France the breakthrough shortly after halftime, putting Les Bleus ahead and easing some of the pressure on Didier Deschamps’ side. The French attack continued to threaten, with Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola providing energy, creativity, and movement in the final third.
Despite France controlling large portions of the second half, Senegal remained competitive and continued searching for an equalizer. Their persistence paid off deep into stoppage time when Ibrahim Mbaye found the net in the 90+5th minute following a well-worked move involving substitute Iliman Ndiaye.
The goal briefly sparked hopes of a dramatic Senegal comeback and created a tense atmosphere in the closing moments of the match. However, France responded almost immediately through their star man.
Just a minute after Senegal reduced the deficit, Mbappé struck again to restore France’s two-goal advantage and seal the victory. His second goal ended Senegal’s momentum and ensured France collected all three points from their opening fixture.
The brace was also a historic achievement for the French captain, as it moved him level with Olivier Giroud on 57 international goals for France, making him joint-holder of the record for the most goals scored for the national team.
The victory places France in a strong position at the top of Group I as they prepare for their next match against Iraq. Senegal, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they face Norway in their second group game.
With late drama, memorable moments, and another standout performance from Mbappé, France have sent an early message to the rest of the competition that they remain serious contenders for World Cup glory.