2026 World Cup Opener: France Dominates Senegal with Late Surge

France's Performance in the 2026 FIFA World Cup

According to Главком: France kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 3-1 victory over Senegal in their first Group I match. The game was far from straightforward for the French side, as the first half ended goalless at 0-0.

The breakthrough came in the 66th minute when Kylian Mbappé scored the opening goal. France continued to assert their dominance over the next 20 minutes, and in the 82nd minute, substitute Bradley Barcola-who had only entered the pitch minutes earlier-doubled the lead. Senegal refused to back down and pulled one back in the 90+5th minute through Ibrahim Mbaye. However, the drama didn't end there. Mbappé sealed the win with his second goal of the match in the 90+6th minute, securing a commanding victory for his team.

Pre-Tournament Build-Up

In the lead-up to the tournament, France played two friendlies:

• A 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast, with Cherki scoring France's only goal.
• A 3-1 win over Northern Ireland, where Olise netted a hat-trick.

Senegal also prepared with two warm-up matches:

• A 3-2 defeat to the United States, with Mané scoring both Senegalese goals.
• A 0-0 draw with Saudi Arabia.

During the first half of the France-Senegal clash, Senegal's Nicolas Jackson hit the post, and Ismaïla Sarr fired over the bar. Additionally, a goal from Jackson was disallowed for offside. Ultimately, France secured a crucial victory to begin their World Cup journey on a high note.

2026 World Cup. Group Stage. Group I

France – Senegal 3:1 (0:0)

Goals: Mbappé (66', 90+6'), Barcola (82') – Mbaye (90+5')

This win provides France with a strong start in the group stage, boosting their prospects of advancing in the tournament. With key players like Mbappé in top form, the team looks well-positioned for future matches. Despite the loss, Senegal showed resilience and fighting spirit until the final whistle, qualities that could serve them well in their upcoming group games. Both sides still have opportunities to improve their standings in the remaining group-stage fixtures.

As France celebrates their opening victory, they now turn their attention to the upcoming match against Norway, who also aims to secure a strong position in Group I. This matchup could significantly influence the standings, especially with Senegal and Iraq also vying for advancement. For more insights on how these teams stack up against each other, check out the details about their upcoming clashes here.