A historic night unfolded at the New York/New Jersey Stadium as tournament favorites France kickstarted their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a clinical 3-1 victory over Senegal. The Group I opening fixture belonged to French captain Kylian Mbappé, whose second-half brilliance secured the points and rewrote French football history.
A fiercely contested opening 45 minutes saw the African heavyweights push Les Bleus to their limits. Senegal looked arguably the sharper side initially, creating the half’s finest openings. Striker Nicolas Jackson was desperately unlucky to see his low, powerful effort ricochet off the post, while winger Ismaïla Sarr squandered a massive opportunity on the brink of halftime, blazing over from seven yards out.
However, the second half belonged to French dominance. The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute when Michael Olise picked out Mbappé in the penalty box, with the superstar forward sweeping a first-time finish past Édouard Mendy. The goal marked his 57th international strike, drawing him level with legendary frontman Olivier Giroud.
Didier Deschamps’ tactical depth proved decisive as substitute Bradley Barcola made an instant impact. Latching onto a beautifully timed through-ball from Adrien Rabiot, Barcola calmly dinked the ball over an advancing Mendy in the 82nd minute to give France breathing room.
Senegal refused to bow out quietly and set up a grandstand finish deep into stoppage time. Seventeen-year-old substitute Ibrahim Mbaye showcased immense skill, weaving past the French defense before hammering a brilliant solo effort past Mike Maignan to halve the deficit.
Yet, the final word belonged to the history maker. Seconds later, Mbappé received the ball 30 yards out and unleashed a scorching strike into the top corner. The goal sealed the 3-1 victory and stood as his 58th international goal, officially making him France’s undisputed all-time top scorer. The brace also elevated him to 14 career World Cup goals, cementing his legacy among the tournament’s greatest icons
