During an ESPN 'First Take' discussion, Stephen A. Smith questioned whether France could finally win the World Cup, overlooking their 2018 victory and 1998 title. The sports world criticized his remarks as lacking knowledge of French World Cup history, especially given Kylian Mbappé's recent record-breaking performances.
On ESPN’s “First Take” on Wednesday morning, during a panel discussion on the U.S. men’s national team’s mentality in the 2026 World Cup compared to years past, Smith brought up the French national team.
“I’m wondering what France is going to do, could this be the year that they finally get it done and they win the World Cup? ” he asked. France, of course, won the 2018 World Cup, defeating Croatia 4-2 in the final. It wasn’t the country’s first title, either, as it won in 1998 as the host nation, shutting out Brazil 3-0 in the final.
Stephen A. Smith speaks at SiriusXM Front Row Live from the NBA Finals on June 08, 2026 in New York City.
“For me, it’s about Mbappé for France,” Smith said. “He scores two goals yesterday, remember he scores a hat-trick in the finals loss to Argentina in 2022. I’m wondering whether or not this is the year for France. ” Mbappé was on the French roster that won it all in 2018, making him the youngest French goal scorer in World Cup history when he found the net in a group stage win over Peru.
"I'm wondering what France is going to do, could this be the year that they finally get it done and they win the World Cup? " – Stephen A. SmithFrance’s forward Kylian Mbappe kisses the World Cup trophy after the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, 2018. The sports world slammed Smith for his lack of knowledge on France’s World Cup history.
Other users called Smith’s words “embarrassing” and foolish. With his two-goal opening performance against Senegal on Tuesday, Mbappé broke Olivier Giroud’s all-time French scoring record and Just Fontaine’s scoring record by a Frenchman in the World Cup.
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