On June 11, 2026, two days before France's opening World Cup match against Senegal, Kylian Mbappé made an unexpected comment during a press conference. When asked about the upcoming game, he joked, 'Le Sénégal champion d’Afrique ?' (Senegal African champions?), referring to Senegal's 2022 Africa Cup of Nations title, and added with a smile, 'Maybe they can win the World Cup too.' The remark was met with laughter from journalists.
Mbappé, 27, clarified that he respects Senegal's team, calling them 'a strong opponent with great players like Sadio Mané.' He emphasized that his comment was not meant to disrespect France or Senegal, but rather to highlight the competitiveness of African football. The France squad is preparing for the match at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, as part of Group D.
Senegal, the 2022 AFCON champions, are making their third World Cup appearance. Their best performance was reaching the quarterfinals in 2002. France, the defending champions from 2018, are aiming to retain the title. The match is scheduled for June 13, 2026.
Social media reactions were mixed, with some fans praising Mbappé's humor and others criticizing it as arrogant. However, no official controversy has emerged, and both teams are focused on the game.
