New Delhi: Captain Kylian Mbappé produced another match-winning performance as France began its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Senegal in a Group I encounter at New Jersey Stadium on Wednesday.
The two-time world champions and runners-up from the previous edition were made to work hard by a determined Senegal side before Mbappé’s brilliance ultimately made the difference. The French superstar scored twice and became France’s all-time leading international goal scorer, taking his tally to 58 goals and surpassing the previous national record.
Despite the final scoreline, the contest was far more competitive than it appeared. Senegal’s disciplined defense frustrated France for much of the match, keeping a star-studded attacking unit featuring Mbappé, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola at bay for more than an hour.
Senegal Holds Firm Before France Breaks Through
Senegal started brightly and nearly took the lead in the opening stages. Nicolas Jackson threatened the French goal with an ambitious effort, while another strike found the net only to be ruled out for offside. Ismaïla Sarr also came close, narrowly missing the target as Senegal looked the more dangerous side during parts of the first half.
France gradually settled into the contest but found Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy in inspired form. Mendy denied both Michael Olise and Mbappé with a series of excellent saves, ensuring the teams went into halftime level at 0-0.
Mbappé Leads France’s Charge
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 66th minute. Olise delivered a clever pass into the penalty area, and Mbappé calmly finished past Mendy to put France ahead. The goal also saw him equal the previous French scoring record.
France doubled its advantage in the 82nd minute when substitute Bradley Barcola found the back of the net, seemingly putting the match beyond Senegal’s reach.
However, the African side refused to surrender. Deep into stoppage time, Ibrahim Baye pulled one back for Senegal, setting up a tense finish and briefly raising hopes of a dramatic comeback.
Those hopes were quickly extinguished. Just a minute later, Mbappé unleashed a superb strike from outside the penalty area to score his second goal of the night and secure a 3-1 victory for France. The goal established him as France’s highest-ever international scorer and lifted his World Cup tally to 14 goals.
Mbappé Focused on Bigger Goals
After the match, Mbappé downplayed the significance of individual records, emphasizing that team success remained his primary objective.
“I play to leave a mark in the history of my country and help France reach the final and win the World Cup. Records are part of a career, but the team’s achievements come first,” he said.
The French captain also warned against complacency, noting that victories are never easy at a World Cup and that the team’s attention has already shifted to its next group-stage match against Iraq.
Deschamps Pleased with Winning Start
France coach Didier Deschamps expressed satisfaction with the result and highlighted the importance of beginning a World Cup campaign with a victory.
“Winning the first match is always crucial. Senegal made things difficult for us, but we adapted well and found solutions. Now we can enjoy this result before focusing on the challenges ahead,” he said.
Senegal Looks Ahead
Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy acknowledged that his side struggled to execute its game plan consistently against one of the tournament favorites.
“We could not fully implement our strategy. Against a team like France, you need sustained pressure and perfect coordination. We will learn from this match and focus on our next game against Norway,” Mendy said.
With three points secured and Mbappé in record-breaking form, France has made a confident start to its quest for a third World Cup title. Senegal, meanwhile, showed enough quality and resilience to suggest it can still challenge for qualification as the tournament progresses.
