France began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 win over Senegal in Group I, as Kylian Mbappé scored twice to become the nation's all-time top scorer with 58 goals. The Real Madrid forward opened the scoring in the 66th minute, converting a pass from Michael Olise, and sealed the match with a long-range strike in the 96th minute. Bradley Barcola, coming off the bench, added a second goal for France late in the game, while Ibrahim Mbaye pulled one back for Senegal in stoppage time. The match, played at MetLife Stadium before 80,545 fans, saw France struggle in the first half despite Senegal hitting the post and missing a clear chance through Ismaila Sarr.
Didier Deschamps' halftime adjustments proved decisive, with Olise moved infield from the right wing, creating space for France's attacking flow. Mbappé's two goals took his World Cup tally to 14, moving him past Pele, Messi, and Just Fontaine, and leaving him two behind Miroslav Klose. At 27, he has now scored in three consecutive World Cup tournaments, including the 2018 final and a hat-trick in the 2022 final loss to Argentina. Senegal, led by Sadio Mané and featuring four France-born players, were competitive and showed their quality, but missed key opportunities. Their first competitive match since winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco was overshadowed by ongoing controversy, as the Confederation of African Football stripped them of the title due to a player walk-off protest, a decision currently under appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Referee Alireza Faghani waved away French appeals for a penalty in the 60th minute when Mbappé went down under a challenge from Mané. France will face Iraq next before meeting Norway, led by Erling Haaland. Deschamps, who plans to step down after this tournament following 14 years in charge, has urged caution despite the win, referencing France's shock exit as defending champions in 2002 after a 1-0 loss to Senegal in the opener.
Mbappé's rise to France's all-time top scorer came in a match where Senegal outplayed the champions for long stretches but lacked the finishing to capitalize. The same Confederation of African Football that stripped Senegal of their Afcon title is now watching them compete without the trophy they believe is rightfully theirs. A system that punishes players for protest while failing to resolve disputes swiftly undermines the credibility of continental football governance. Senegal's performance proves they belong on the world stage, yet they fight for recognition both on and off the pitch.
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