France defeated Senegal 3-1 at the MetLife Stadium, but the result hardly reflects how uncomfortable Didier Deschamps’ side felt for much of the match. For a long time the match looked like a match between two teams that knew each other well.
Perhaps there was little surprise in it.
Until independence in 1960, Senegal was part of Afrique-Occidentale française (French West Africa), with Dakar being the capital of the federation that anchored the French colonial presence in the region.
Decades later, football continues this thread. Senegal captain Kalidou Koulibaly spent his formative years at Metz, while Idrissa Gueye, Ismaila Sarr and Nicolas Jackson are among the latest generation to follow a path that has long run through the cradle of Ligue 1.
Aliou Cissé relied on experience over youth in midfield, preferring Idrissa Gueye over Pape Matar Sarr, and his side quickly settled into a familiar rhythm. Although France held most of the early holdings, it struggled to build anything substantial from that advantage.
Kylian Mbappé was guilty of breaking down promising moves with heavy touches after Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé found him in space twice in quick succession.
Senegal, meanwhile, seemed content to absorb the pressure, waiting for opportunities to exploit open space. Sadio Mane, Ismaila and Gueye came together neatly in the seventh minute to open a gap in the French midfield, but Jackson’s final pass was a little too quick for Ismaila to reach the end.
Nicolas Jackson of Senegal controls the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I match against France at New York New Jersey Stadium. | Photo credit: Getty Images via AFP
Nicolas Jackson of Senegal controls the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I match against France at New York New Jersey Stadium. | Photo credit: Getty Images via AFP
As temperatures rose, so did Senegal’s confidence.
France’s adventurous approach left Jackson space to attack, and the striker came closest to breaking the deadlock after Mbappe was robbed of the ball in the middle. He shot clear down the left and slotted a low effort past Mike Maignan, only for the post and a lucky ricochet off the keeper’s leg to keep the scores level.
Despite all of France’s possession, the better openings before halftime came to Senegal. Deep into stoppage time, Mane set Ismaila into space with only Maignan to beat, but the winger’s effort was nowhere near the target.
However, the pattern began to change when the game restarted.
France moved the ball with greater urgency, with Olise becoming increasingly involved in taking the fight into the opponent’s bay. The Bayern Munich winger forced Édouard Mendy into a sharp save after a strong run through the middle. The pressure was increasing. Mbappé waved away a penalty appeal and later saw Mendy collect another effort, but the breakthrough felt inevitable.
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It finally came in the 66th minute. Released into the right channel, Mbappé guided a precise finish past Mendy to break a deadlock that left the French increasingly agitated. Senegal thought they had found an immediate response when Jackson fired a finish into the top corner, but the offside flag intervened.
That moment changed the face of the match. Forced to hunt for an equalizer, Senegal abandoned the compact shape that had frustrated France. The spaces France had been searching for all afternoon had suddenly become available.
Adrien Rabiot placed a pass into the path of Bradley Barcola, and the substitute lifted a composed finish past an advancing Mendy to double the lead.
Senegal finally found a way back when sustained pressure resulted in an Ibrahim Mbaye goal. But before the West Africans could fully entertain thoughts of a comeback, Mbappe scored again to provide the final flourish.
He gathered possession outside the area and unleashed a curling right-footed effort that curved past Mendy into the top corner, silencing the crescendo that was beginning to build again.
Kylian Mbappe scores France’s third goal against Senegal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup match. | Photo credit: AP
Kylian Mbappe scores France’s third goal against Senegal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup match. | Photo credit: AP
Senegal had spent much of the afternoon reminding France why this match resonates so much. Like the party that stunned the world in 2002, it was organised, fearless and long on par with its illustrious opponents.
There were moments when history was about to stir again.
But as Senegal flirted with the possibility of another famous upset, Mbappe proved the difference between a team that threatened and the team that ultimately prevailed.
Published on June 17, 2026
