Kylian Mbappé has addressed France’s disappointing end to the 2026 World Cup. Les Bleus finished 4th after losing 2-0 to eventual champion Spain in the semifinal and 6-4 to England in the third-place match in Miami Gardens.
On July 27, Mbappé published an emotional open letter to French supporters, admitting that failing to win a team trophy would continue to hurt. He also thanked his teammates, Didier Deschamps’ staff, and the fans who supported France throughout the tournament.
A tournament that started with big expectations
France entered the 2026 World Cup among the leading contenders after reaching the 2018 and 2022 finals under Didier Deschamps. Captain Kylian Mbappé arrived after scoring 42 goals in 44 appearances for Real Madrid during the 2025-26 season.
Mbappé had also recovered from the left knee injury that disrupted the beginning of his year. By March, he said he was fully fit and ready to play regularly before the World Cup. His improved fitness gave France real hope for another title push in North America.
The tournament was hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico for the first time. It marked a new era of World Cup competition with an expanded 48-team format. Expectations were high for France to make history again on this bigger stage.
France’s road to the semifinal defeat
France won all 3 group-stage matches before eliminating Sweden, Paraguay, and Morocco in the knockout rounds. Mbappé was central to the run, scoring 8 goals before the semifinal. Mbappe was a key contributor in nearly every match the squad played.
France then lost 2-0 to eventual champion Spain at Dallas Stadium, ending its bid to reach a 3rd consecutive World Cup final. The match ended in a tough and painful loss for the French squad. It ended their hopes of reaching a third straight World Cup final.
Les Bleus continued into the third-place match against England. Mbappé later wrote that France had given everything it could, even though the tournament ended without a team trophy. Mbappé later said the group gave everything it had until the final whistle.
Losing to England in the 3rd-place match
France faced England in the 3rd-place playoff at Miami Stadium on July 18. The high-scoring match ended in a 6-4 England victory, leaving France in fourth place in the tournament.
The game marked Didier Deschamps’ final match as France’s head coach, concluding a 14-year tenure that included the 2018 World Cup title, the 2021 UEFA Nations League trophy, and runner-up finishes at Euro 2016 and the 2022 World Cup. Zinédine Zidane was later confirmed as his successor on a four-year deal.
Fun fact: In 2018, Mbappe became the first teenager since Pelé in 1958 to score in a World Cup final.
Mbappe’s historic scoring record at the tournament
Mbappé finished the 2026 World Cup with 10 goals and 4 assists. He earned the Golden Boot for the second consecutive tournament he played in, after also winning it in 2022, becoming the first player ever to win it at multiple World Cups.
He also became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals in 22 appearances across 3 tournaments, surpassing Lionel Messi.
Mbappé scored twice and assisted Bradley Barcola against England, completing a tournament in which he recorded 14 goal contributions, the most goal involvements at a single World Cup on record since 1966. He nevertheless said he would have preferred to play in the final rather than finish as the competition’s leading scorer.
The emotional letter to French fans
On July 27, Mbappé published an open letter to the French public through regional newspapers and social media. The message reflected on France’s month-long World Cup campaign and the disappointment of finishing without a team trophy.
Mbappé acknowledged that the loss still hurt and wrote that the pain would continue for some time. He said he was proud to have won the Golden Boot but would have preferred to lift the World Cup.
He thanked supporters who stayed up late to follow France’s matches across North America. Mbappé concluded that the team’s story would continue and that players and supporters had not finished sharing the journey.
Tributes to teammates and coaching staff
Mbappé thanked his teammates and said he could not have scored 10 goals without their work, movement, passing, and team spirit. He described the Golden Boot as an achievement shared with the entire squad.
He also recognized the physiotherapists, cooks, trainers, drivers, and other staff members whose work is rarely visible to the public. Mbappé said the team’s accomplishments would not have been possible without them.
Addressing Deschamps, Mbappé wrote that he had already told the outgoing coach what he wanted to say and thanked him and his staff for their contributions. The bond between the captain and coach reflected years of shared history together.
Mbappe’s return to Real Madrid ahead
Mbappé’s immediate priority is rest following a long club season and the World Cup, according to new France coach Zinédine Zidane. Real Madrid has already begun its 2026-27 preparations and is scheduled to play its first preseason friendly against Fiorentina on Aug. 1.
The club’s La Liga season is scheduled to begin in mid-August, although Real Madrid has not publicly confirmed Mbappé’s individual return date. Strong club form has often helped players move past painful international disappointment.
Mbappé closed his letter with a message of hope, writing that France’s World Cup campaign had ended but that the national team’s story would continue. Fans can expect him to return with renewed determination in the seasons ahead.
What comes next for Deschamps and Zidane
Deschamps’ 187th and final match in charge of France ended in a 6-4 loss to England. His 14-year tenure included the 2018 World Cup title. The 2021 UEFA Nations League trophy and appeared in the 2016 European Championship and 2022 World Cup finals.
On July 28, the French Football Federation officially appointed Zinédine Zidane as France’s new head coach. His 4-year term begins Aug. 1 and runs through the 2030 World Cup. His appointment would likely bring fresh energy to the national team setup.
Zidane is scheduled to make his competitive debut against Turkey in September before overseeing France’s home Nations League match against Italy in October. The new coach will look to rebuild the team for future tournaments.
Little-known fact: Mbappe’s 2026 sprint of 23.36 mph topped Tyreek Hill’s fastest recorded NFL speed of 23.24 mph.
TL;DR
- France finished 4th at the 2026 World Cup after losing to Spain in the semifinal and to England in the 3rd-place match.
- Mbappe published an emotional open letter admitting the loss will hurt for a long while.
- He finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals and became World Cup history’s all-time leading scorer with 22 goals.
- Didier Deschamps coached his final match in charge of France, with Zinedine Zidane expected to take over soon.
- Mbappé is expected to rest before resuming club duties with Real Madrid.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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