France beat Senegal (3-1): Mbappé brace at MetLife Stadium
Mbappé scored twice and Barcola sealed it in France's win over a battling Senegal in Group I.
France opened with authority in Group I, beating Senegal 3-1 in a top-quality clash between two sides expected to go far at this 2026 World Cup. The match was played at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford (USA), the imposing 80,663-seat venue in the New York-New Jersey area, one of the tournament's cathedrals and host of the grand final.
The game broke open in the second half. In the 66th minute, Kylian Mbappé broke the deadlock for 1-0 after an assist from Michael Olise. The decisive blow came in the 82nd, when Bradley Barcola made it 2-0 finishing a Adrien Rabiot pass. Senegal never gave up and pulled one back in the 90th minute through Iliman Mbaye, set up by Iliman Ndiaye, but in that same finale Mbappé completed his brace for the final 3-1.
The match, clean on the disciplinary front, produced no notable cards, a rarity in a duel of such physical intensity between two heavyweights.
France, managed by Didier Deschamps, set up in a 4-2-3-1 with Mike Maignan in goal, a reliable backline of Saliba and Upamecano and an attacking trio of Dembélé, Olise and Mbappé up front. Senegal, with Bouna Thiaw Pape on the bench, answered with another 4-2-3-1 led by Sadio Mané and with Nicolas Jackson as the focal point, unable to stop the French surge.
The win puts France as provisional Group I leaders with three points and the look of a contender, while Senegal, despite the defeat, showed glimpses of their potential and must respond to stay in the qualification fight at a 48-team 2026 World Cup spread across the United States, Mexico and Canada.