By Johan van der Merwe · Sports Editor · June 16, 2026France commenced their World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal, despite facing early challenges. The match, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, saw Kylian Mbappé net two goals, contributing significantly to his career tally in the tournament. Bradley Barcola also scored for France, while Ibrahim Mbaye registered a consolation goal for Senegal in added time.
Mbappé‘s two goals increased his World Cup total to 14, placing him level with Gerd Mueller as the third-highest scorer in the tournament’s history. He is now within reach of beating Miroslav Klose‘s all-time record of 16. Mbappé‘s performance was highlighted by a goal from a pass by Michael Olise and a later strike in stoppage time. Olise was noted for his playmaking throughout the match.
France’s Dominance and Senegal’s Challenge
The first half saw Senegal pose a serious challenge, creating several opportunities. However, France asserted dominance in the second half. Olise had a one-on-one opportunity saved by Senegal goalkeeper Édouard Mendy before setting up Mbappé‘s first goal.
Barcola, who came on as a substitute for Ousmane Dembélé, sealed France‘s lead by chipping the ball over Mendy. Despite Senegal‘s efforts, including a late goal from Mbaye, France maintained control. The match concluded with Mbappé scoring his second goal, his 58th for France, making him the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, surpassing Olivier Giroud.
The history between these two nations on the FIFA World Cup stage includes a notable encounter in 2002. In that tournament’s opening match in Seoul, South Korea, debutants Senegal defeated the then-reigning champions France 1-0. Papa Bouba Diop scored the winning goal in the 30th minute. Senegal progressed to the quarter-finals in that historic run, while France was eliminated in the group stage without scoring a goal.
Historical Context and Other Matches
France has a rich history in the World Cup, having participated in the inaugural tournament in 1930. They have reached the final four times in recent decades, winning the title in 1998 and 2018, and finishing as runners-up in 2006 and 2022. Their 1998 victory on home soil saw them defeat Brazil 3-0 in the final, while their 2018 triumph in Russia was a 4-2 win over Croatia. In 2022, they were defeated by Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Senegal, known as the Lions of Teranga, has made four appearances in the World Cup, including the current tournament. Their best finish was the quarter-finals in 2002. In 2018, they were eliminated from the group stage by the Fair Play rule. In 2022, they reached the Round of 16 before being defeated by England.
In other World Cup matches, Argentina, with Lionel Messi, was scheduled to play Algeria. Messi, who suffered a hamstring injury in late May, proved his fitness by scoring as a substitute in a warm-up match. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni noted Messi‘s importance to the team. Additionally, Erling Haaland made his World Cup finals debut for Norway against Iraq, marking Norway‘s first qualification since 1998. Haaland has been the Premier League‘s top scorer for three of the last four seasons at Manchester City.
In Monday’s action, Spain drew goalless with debutants Cape Verde. Iran and New Zealand played to a 2-2 draw in Los Angeles. Following their match, Iran‘s coach Amir Ghalenoei stated that his team was informed they needed to travel back to Mexico immediately after the game. Iranian state media later reported that winger Mehdi Torabi‘s visa had expired after the game, as he was issued a single-entry visa instead of a multiple-entry visa like other national team players.
This logistical issue followed a change in Iran‘s training base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in Mexico, shortly before the tournament, which is co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Fans can watch all FIFA World Cup 2026™ matches live on DStv Premium, Compact Plus, Compact, Family, and Access, with streaming options available via the DStv Stream app.
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Source: supersport.com
