WC 2026: Mbappé Scores Twice to Lead France to Victory Against Senegal

France, the vice-world champion, began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, but the scoreline belies a lackluster performance for much of the match. In the first half, France failed to create any significant scoring opportunities, with their opponents, Senegal, having the better chances. Senegal nearly took the lead when captain Kalidou Koulibaly almost scored an own goal in the 44th minute, highlighting France's struggles.

Despite Senegal's first-half dominance in chances, they failed to capitalize. Players like Mbappé, Dembélé, and Olise were unable to make a significant impact before the break. The team's performance was described as sluggish, with a lack of dangerous shots on goal. In the second half, however, France showed a different face. Desiré Doué missed a chance early on, and both Olise and Mbappé were denied by Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

The breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Mbappé, assisted by Olise, opened the scoring. This goal not only put France ahead but also equaled Olivier Giroud's record for the national team. Substitute Bradley Barcola extended the lead to 2-0. The match became briefly tense in stoppage time when Senegal's Ibrahim Mbaye scored after a mistake by French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, making it 2-1. However, Mbappé quickly sealed the victory with a long-range shot, securing the first three points for France.

France's next opponent in Group I is Iraq, followed by Senegal playing Norway. The match report emphasizes that while France secured the win, their performance in the first half was concerning, requiring a significant improvement after halftime to overcome a more assertive Senegalese side.