France began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, recovering from a tightly contested first half to secure all three points in their opening Group I match.
The defending European champions were made to work for the result as Senegal produced a disciplined display before the break, limiting France’s attacking opportunities while creating several chances of their own. However, the balance of the contest shifted after halftime as France found greater rhythm in possession and became more clinical in front of goal.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 66th minute to give France the breakthrough they had been searching for. The forward later added a second goal in stoppage time, sealing the result and capping another milestone performance in the national team’s colours.
Bradley Barcola also found the net during France’s second-half surge, extending the lead before Senegal responded through Ibrahim Mbaye. The late goal briefly gave the African side hope of a comeback, but Mbappé’s second strike ended any chance of a late revival.
Beyond the victory, the match marked a significant personal achievement for Mbappé. His brace saw him become France’s all-time leading scorer in men’s international football, surpassing the previous record held by Olivier Giroud.
France head coach Didier Deschamps credited his side’s improved second-half display after a challenging opening 45 minutes, during which Senegal matched the French attack with disciplined defending and quick transitions.
For Senegal, the result was a disappointing end to an encouraging first-half performance. Despite creating opportunities and remaining competitive for much of the match, the team was unable to contain France’s attacking quality after the interval.
The victory gives France an early advantage in Group I as they prepare for their next fixture against Iraq. Senegal, meanwhile, will look to recover when they face Norway, knowing a positive result will be important in keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
