NEW JERSEY (The Thursday Times) — France began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in New Jersey, surviving a disciplined first-half display from the Lions of Teranga before Kylian Mbappé turned the match decisively in Les Bleus’ favour.
Didier Deschamps’ side were made to work hard in their Group I opener at New York/New Jersey Stadium, where Senegal pressed with purpose, defended compactly and created the more dangerous early chances before France’s attacking quality finally broke through after the interval.
Mbappé opened the scoring in the 66th minute, meeting a sharp pass from Michael Olise and finishing first time across Édouard Mendy into the far corner. The goal arrived after a frustrating opening hour for the French captain, who had been crowded out by Senegal’s back line and denied by Mendy shortly before the breakthrough.
Senegal had threatened to repeat echoes of their famous 2002 World Cup upset over France, especially during a first half in which Nicolas Jackson hit the post and Ismaïla Sarr missed a clear chance from close range shortly before half-time. Those missed opportunities proved costly as France grew into the contest.
The match also carried controversy in the second half when Mbappé appeared to be brought down by Sadio Mané inside the penalty area. The referee reviewed the incident but did not award a penalty, leaving France frustrated and Senegal temporarily relieved.
Moments later, Senegal thought they had equalised through Jackson, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. The warning briefly unsettled France, but Les Bleus responded with greater speed in possession and began to stretch Senegal through the width of Olise, Ousmane Dembélé and the fresh legs introduced from the bench.
Bradley Barcola doubled France’s lead in the 82nd minute, giving Deschamps’ side breathing space after a spell in which Senegal’s defensive resistance had begun to fade. The goal reflected France’s depth, with Deschamps able to turn to a bench filled with attacking options as the match opened up.
Senegal refused to collapse. Pape Thiaw’s side continued to push forward and found a late route back into the match when Mbaye scored in the 95th minute, briefly cutting France’s lead to 2-1 and creating a tense stoppage-time finish.
Any hopes of a dramatic Senegal comeback were quickly ended by Mbappé, who struck again in the 96th minute to restore France’s two-goal cushion and complete a personal double. His second goal sealed a result that looked comfortable on paper but had been far from straightforward for long periods.
The victory gives France an important early platform in a demanding Group I that also includes Norway and Iraq. With Erling Haaland’s Norway expected to challenge strongly for qualification, France’s opening win carries immediate value in a group where margins could become significant.
For Senegal, the performance brought encouragement despite the defeat. Their structure, intensity and first-half chances showed why they were viewed as one of Africa’s strongest contenders entering the tournament, but the missed chances and late defensive lapses left them with nothing from a match they had shaped well for more than an hour.
France will take confidence from the scoreline and Mbappé’s sharp finishing, but Deschamps will also have questions to address. The midfield pairing struggled to supply consistent creativity in the first half, while Senegal repeatedly found space on the counter before France’s individual quality took control.
The result also rewrites the emotional backdrop of this fixture. Senegal’s 1-0 win over France in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup remains one of the competition’s great shocks, but this time France absorbed the pressure, punished missed chances and left New Jersey with three points.
For Mbappé, the match was another reminder of his centrality to France’s World Cup ambitions. On a night when Senegal threatened to make the opener uncomfortable, the French captain supplied the decisive moments that turned an uncertain evening into a winning start.
