- France beat Senegal 3–1 in their World Cup opener with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice
- Senegal created chances but failed to convert their opportunities
- Mbappé sealed the win with a late long-range goal
France began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a convincing 3–1 win over Senegal, led by a standout performance from captain Kylian Mbappé, who scored twice in a match that opened up after a cautious first half.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the Senegal competed strongly and created several chances, including a shot from Nicolas Jackson that hit the post, while Ismaïla Sarr and Sadio Mané also tested the French defence.
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Despite their efforts, France gradually grew into the game and began to dominate possession and attacking play.
The breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Mbappé finished a well-crafted team move, firing a low shot past goalkeeper Édouard Mendy to put France ahead. Senegal briefly thought they had equalised through Jackson, but the goal was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
France extended their lead in the closing stages when Adrien Rabiot provided a precise pass for Bradley Barcola, who calmly chipped the advancing Mendy to make it 2–0. Senegal managed to pull one back in stoppage time through substitute Ibrahim Mbaye, who finished a solo effort with composure.
However, France quickly restored control of the match as Mbappé capped his performance with a stunning long-range strike into the top corner, sealing a 3–1 victory and a strong start to their World Cup journey.
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