Mbappe brace fires France to 3-1 win over Senegal in World Cup 2026 opener

France commenced their World Cup 2026 campaign with a dominant 3-1 victory over Senegal in the opening match of the tournament. Star forward Kylian Mbappé was pivotal in securing the win, scoring two goals, including a stunning long-range strike in stoppage time. This performance also saw Mbappé break the record to become France's all-time leading goalscorer with 58 international goals, surpassing Olivier Giroud.

Despite a sluggish start in the first half where Senegal created several opportunities, France found their rhythm after the break. Bradley Barcola also added a goal for France, while Ibrahim Mbaye netted a late consolation goal for Senegal. France's strong second-half display ultimately proved decisive, earning them a crucial win to begin their World Cup journey.