The captain of the French national team gives his bold opinion
World Cup 2026
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The 2026 World Cup may have already kicked off on June 11, but for France and Senegal, the real start of their journey is still days away. The two nations are set to collide on June 16 in a highly charged Group I encounter—and the tension is already building.
While other teams have already taken the pitch, the reigning world champions and the Lions of Teranga are locked in a waiting game, counting down to what promises to be one of the most talked-about matches of the opening round. The rivalry runs deep, the stakes are high, and both sides carry more than just three points into the contest.
French captain Kylian Mbappé, never one to shy away from a bold statement, recently sat down with M6 and didn’t hold back. He acknowledged Senegal’s strength—but then added a twist.
“It’s good to start against Senegal,” Mbappé said. “We’re playing against the African champions… well, I’m not sure, to be honest. Whether it’s them or Morocco, we’ll try to stay out of that mess.“
His comment was a clear jab at the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the title of 2025 African champions—a dispute still unresolved by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. With one eyebrow raised and a sly smile, the French captain managed to praise his opponent while simultaneously poking fun at the confusion hanging over African football’s crown.
The message was subtle but sharp: France is focused on their own path, not the chaos around them.
On June 16, the talking stops. But thanks to Mbappé, the mind games have already begun.
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Piala Dunia 2026
Piala Dunia FIFA 2026 akan menjadi edisi paling revolusioner dalam sejarah sepak bola dunia. Turnamen ini untuk pertama kalinya akan diselenggarakan di tiga negara sekaligus, yaitu Amerika Serikat, Kanada, dan Meksiko. Selain itu, jumlah peserta juga meningkat dari 32 menjadi 48 tim, membuka peluang lebih besar bagi negara-negara dari berbagai konfederasi untuk tampil di panggung global. Format baru ini akan menghadirkan lebih banyak pertandingan, atmosfer kompetisi yang lebih luas, serta jangkauan penonton yang semakin besar di seluruh dunia.
Dengan skala yang jauh lebih besar, FIFA menargetkan turnamen ini sebagai ajang yang tidak hanya kompetitif tetapi juga spektakuler dari sisi teknologi dan pengalaman penonton. Stadion-stadion modern di berbagai kota tuan rumah telah dipersiapkan untuk menghadirkan pertandingan berkelas dunia, didukung oleh inovasi seperti peningkatan sistem VAR dan pengalaman digital bagi fans. diprediksi akan menjadi tonggak baru dalam evolusi sepak bola internasional, memperkuat popularitas olahraga ini sekaligus menciptakan momen-momen bersejarah yang akan dikenang dalam waktu lama.
