Mbappe inspires France past Senegal 3-1 as VAR controversy clouds World Cup opener

Kylian Mbappe drove France to a 3-1 victory over Senegal in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener on Tuesday, June 16, though Didier Deschamps’ side could not escape a VAR controversy that threatened to overshadow the result.

Mbappe’s display was the centrepiece of a controlled French performance, with Deschamps’ side ultimately comfortable winners despite the officiating flashpoint that will dominate post-match discussion. The details of the VAR incident were not fully resolved at the time of reporting, but it drew significant attention from both sets of supporters and pundits.

Elsewhere on a busy Tuesday, Norway — with Erling Haaland leading the line — took on Iraq, while defending champions Argentina opened their tournament against Algeria. Austria and Jordan were also scheduled to meet overnight to complete the day’s fixtures.

Off the pitch, England received an injury blow when defender Tino Livramento withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s squad with a calf injury. Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah has been called up as his replacement and was travelling to England’s Kansas City training base.

Portugal manager Roberto Martinez is reportedly set to depart his role at the end of the tournament. The news follows the sacking of Tunisia head coach Sabri Lamouchi, which appeared to accelerate speculation around Martinez’s future.

In Houston, supporters attending Portugal’s group-stage clash with DR Congo were warned to remain vigilant due to severe storm forecasts, with possible flooding predicted near the stadium. Host committee chairman Chris Canetti urged fans to plan ahead. “We would encourage people, if going to the match on Wednesday, to have a plan — to know before you go, to monitor our websites and all the different websites available for safety purposes, and arrive early to ensure the safest and best way into the match,” he said. Barricades have been erected in flood-prone areas, with Houston Police and Fire departments placed on red alert.

Germany captain Joshua Kimmich added an unusual footnote to the tournament’s opening days, revealing that a venomous snake had been spotted near the squad’s training base. “We saw a snake yesterday — we were told it was venomous,” Kimmich told reporters. “If you get bitten, you have to go to the hospital. I don’t think you’ll die, but it’s certainly dangerous. That’s why we’re trying to keep our distance from animals here.”