World Cup Group Stage - 1
France 3 - 1 FT Senegal
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Expected Goals (xG)
Passes
Pass Accuracy
Corners
Fouls
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
HT
66' K. Mbappe (M. Olise)
↓ I. Sarr ↑I. Mbaye 75'
↓ L. Camara ↑H. Diarra 76'
80' ↓ O. Dembele ↑B. Barcola
82' B. Barcola (A. Rabiot)
↓ P. Gueye ↑I. Ndiaye 83'
↓ N. Jackson ↑B. Dieng 83'
87' ↓ D. Doue ↑R. Cherki
↓ I. Gueye ↑P. Ciss 88'
I. Mbaye (I. Ndiaye) 90'+5
90'+6 K. Mbappe
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
France
Goalkeepers
Mike Maignan 
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Jules Koundé 
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
4
Tackles
50%
Duel Win %
Dayot Upamecano
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
6
Tackles
67%
Duel Win %
William Saliba
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Theo Hernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Aurélien Tchouaméni 
MAGNET
77
Activity
77
Activity
70
Passes
7
Duels
Adrien Rabiot 
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
2
Key Passes
7.5
Rating
Michael Olise 
ARCHITECT
4
Key Passes
4
Key Passes
1
Assists
50%
Pass Acc
Ousmane Dembélé
LATE SHIFT
10
Late Mins
10
Late Mins
80
Total Mins
80
Entry
Désiré Doué 
NPC
87
Minutes
87
Minutes
31%
Pass Acc
6.7
Rating
Forwards
Kylian Mbappé 
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
8.2
Rating
BENCH
Brice Samba 
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Robin Risser
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Maxence Lacroix
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Hernández
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Lucas Digne
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahima Konaté
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Malo Gusto
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Manu Koné
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
N'Golo Kanté
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Rayan Cherki
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
12
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Warren Zaïre-Emery
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Maghnes Akliouche
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Marcus Thuram
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Jean-Philippe Mateta
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bradley Barcola 
CLOSER
1
Late Goals
1
Late Goals
0
Late Assists
75
Minute
Senegal
Goalkeepers
Edouard Mendy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
Krépin Diatta
WALL
0
Dribbled Past
0
Dribbled Past
5
Tackles
90%
Duel Win %
Kalidou Koulibaly
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Moussa Niakhaté
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
El Hadji Malick Diouf
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Idrissa Gana Gueye
NPC
88
Minutes
88
Minutes
56%
Pass Acc
6.6
Rating
Pape Gueye
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
Ismaïla Sarr
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
75
Total Mins
75
Entry
Lamine Camara
LATE SHIFT
14
Late Mins
14
Late Mins
76
Total Mins
76
Entry
Sadio Mané
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
99
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
Nicolas Jackson
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
BENCH
Yehvann Diouf
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Mory Diaw
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
Ismail Jakobs
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Antoine Mendy
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Mamadou Sarr
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Abdoulaye Seck
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pape Matar Sarr
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Pathé Ismaël Ciss
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Habib Diarra
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Bara Sapoko Ndiaye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Iliman Ndiaye 
SUPER SUB
1
Assist
1
Assist
16
Minutes
6.7
Rating
Cherif Ndiaye
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Assane Diao
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Ibrahim Mbaye
CLUTCH HERO
90
Goal Time
90
Goal Time
Goal
Impact
7.3
Rating
Ahmadou Bamba Dieng
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
16
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Late Fireworks Ignite French Campaign in New Jersey
Must-Watch Futmetrix Score: 81/100. An explosive final ten minutes at MetLife Stadium transformed a tactical gridlock into a thrilling spectacle, proving France’s offensive depth is ready for the global stage.
The Initial Gridlock
The opening exchanges of this World Cup group stage clash were defined by high Stakes and cautious probing from both sides. France edged possession with 54 percent of the ball, but they found themselves wrestling against a resolute Senegalese block. Dayot Upamecano was the undisputed rock at the heart of the defence, orchestrating the backline and ensuring the African side’s counter-attacks were swiftly neutralised. A series of set-pieces built the early tension, with ten corners shared between the two nations acting as the primary source of penalty-area danger. Despite the territorial advantage, the final killer pass remained elusive for long spells, leaving the MetLife Stadium crowd waiting for a moment of true inspiration to light up the tournament.
The Essential Pivot
The delicate Balance of the tie finally tipped in the 66th minute. A sudden injection of pace and vision saw M. Olise thread a brilliant ball through the lines, finding K. Mbappe who made no mistake to break the deadlock. That opening strike forced Senegal to abandon their defensive shape, opening the pitch up for devastating transitions. France’s manager then looked to the bench to twist the knife, introducing B. Barcola. The substitution proved to be a tactical masterstroke. In the 82nd minute, the young forward justified the manager's faith, latching onto a precise feed from A. Rabiot to double the advantage and seemingly put the contest to bed.
A Breathless Resolution
What followed was a dizzying spell of football where the Intensity went completely off the charts. Just as the stadium began to empty, Senegal’s own substitutes launched a stunning, albeit brief, revival. Deep into stoppage time at the 95th minute, I. Ndiaye carved out space to assist I. Mbaye, setting up a nervy final sixty seconds. However, any hopes of a miraculous Senegalese comeback were instantly crushed. Barely a minute later, Mbappé stepped up to extinguish the threat, sealing his hero’s brace and cementing a 3-1 victory. The result places France firmly in the driver's seat of the group, leaving Senegal to regroup ahead of their next crucial fixture.
Key Questions
What does this mean for France's season?
This opening win places France at the top of their World Cup group, providing vital momentum and breathing room for the remaining fixtures in the competition.
How did substitute Kylian Mbappé change the game?
Though he actually started the match, his late-game execution felt like a fresh injection of energy, completely dismantling Senegal's weary defense with a decisive, match-winning brace.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Opening Day Pressure at MetLife Stadium
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 25/100. An opening group match that already carries the heavy psychological weight of a survive-and-advance knockout tie.
The Setup
The World Cup kicks off for France and Senegal on June 16, 2026, at MetLife Stadium. Every nation wants a knockout-style survival mentality from day one, but realistically, the mathematical Stakes remain low early in the group stage with time to recover from a slip-up. Our read shows a modest Form rating for both camps as they enter the tournament. France steps onto the pitch as heavy favorites. However, a solid Balance score hints the African side has the tactical organization to frustrate them, even if a desperately low Stars rating guarantees a severe lack of marquee attacking flair to light up the crowd.
Key Battle
Expect a grinding contest between the French midfield engine and Senegal's deep defensive block. Without superstar names pulling the strings creatively, this match will be won by whichever unit maintains its tactical discipline. France needs quick horizontal ball movement to stretch the pitch, while Senegal will look to absorb the mounting pressure and counter aggressively through the channels.
Our Prediction
France should edge this, but it will not be pretty. We expect a slow, methodical 1-0 victory for the French. Senegal will hold firm for the first hour before relentless possession and creeping fatigue force a decisive late defensive error.