France-Senegal: Why Kanté replaces Mbappé at the press conference

France's World Cup campaign will begin without captain Kylian Mbappé at the customary pre-match press conference. Instead, midfielder N'Golo Kanté is scheduled to address the media on Monday, the day before France's opening match against Senegal.

The decision to have Kanté speak, rather than the team's star player, stems from logistical challenges. The press conference is set to take place at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, while the team's training sessions are held at the Red Bull training center in Montclair, New Jersey. The French Football Federation staff aimed to spare Mbappé a lengthy three-hour round trip on the eve of a crucial match, especially since FIFA regulations prevented the team from training at the actual match stadium.

This arrangement has reportedly caused some friction. While Mbappé himself was willing to attend, the team's management prioritized his rest and preparation. The situation is expected to be different for the second match in Philadelphia, where the training facilities and the press conference venue are closer, allowing Mbappé to fulfill his media duties then.