On the road to the 2026 World Cup, the French national team, outnumbered, defeated Brazil (2-1) on Thursday, March 26 in Foxborough, thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé, now one goal away from Olivier Giroud’s record, and Hugo Ekitike.
Opposed to Brazil for the first of their two friendly matches in the United States in preparation for the 2026 World Cup (co-hosted with Canada and Mexico), the French team secured a victory (2-1) on Thursday night.
Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring with a superb lob after half an hour of play, inching closer to Olivier Giroud’s record of goals for the French team (57). Hugo Ekitike extended the lead in the second half while the French team was a man down. Bremer pulled one back for Brazil.
Next stop for the French team is Washington to face Colombia on Sunday at the Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland.
With their captain Kylian Mbappé starting, dressed in green with the new away jersey they will wear at the World Cup, the French team started the prestigious match well despite conceding the first shot. Raphinha missed a chance early on, and Olise’s free-kick was deflected. The players of Didier Deschamps lacked presence on an Ekitike center with no one to convert.
After a dangerous attack by Martinelli, the French team constructed a remarkable play leading to Mbappé’s goal, where he lobbed past Ederson for his 56th goal in blue, one goal short of Olivier Giroud’s record.
Kylian Mbappé has scored in each of his last seven appearances (with a total of 8 goals), second only to Just Fontaine in the history of the French team, who scored 8 goals between June and October 1958.
Other highlights include Ekitike’s decisive goal while playing with ten men due to Upamecano’s expulsion, which doubled the lead. Bremer later scored for Brazil, but the French team held on for the win.
The French team’s lineup: – Maignan – Gusto, Konaté, Upamecano, T. Hernandez – Tchouaméni, Rabiot – Dembélé, Olise, Ekitike – K. Mbappé (Thuram)
Updates on the upcoming schedule for the French team include matches against Colombia and Ivory Coast, with preparations ongoing for the 2026 World Cup.
Fact Check: – The French team defeated Brazil 2-1 in a friendly match ahead of the 2026 World Cup. – Kylian Mbappé scored and is now one goal away from Olivier Giroud’s record for the French national team. – The French team will face Colombia next and continue preparing for the upcoming World Cup.
