The French national team kicked off their 2026 World Cup journey with an important 3–1 win over Senegal on Tuesday evening at the New Jersey Stadium, in the opening round of Group 9.
“Les Bleus” delivered a balanced performance combining tactical discipline with attacking efficiency, while Senegal showed physical strength and fighting spirit before France sealed the match in the second half.
Goals
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Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring in the 66th minute after a brilliant run down the left flank.
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Bradley Barcola doubled the lead in the 82nd minute following an assist from Mbappé.
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Mbappé returned to score France’s third goal in the 90+6 minute, confirming their dominance.
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Ibrahim Mbaye scored Senegal’s lone goal in the 90+5 minute.
Mbappé Makes History
With his brace, Kylian Mbappé raised his international tally to 58 goals, becoming France’s all‑time top scorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud — a milestone that reinforces his status as one of the brightest stars of his generation.
Key Takeaways
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France displayed strong physical and tactical readiness.
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Barcola’s introduction added new attacking solutions.
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Despite the loss, Senegal showed promise and competitiveness for the upcoming matches.
With this victory, France secure their first three points of the tournament and send a clear message that they are among the top contenders for the title.
