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Stephen A. Smith's 'Finally' Win Line on France's World Cup Draws Widespread Criticism

The on-air remark came after Kylian Mbappé's two-goal opener and misstated that France had never won the tournament, prompting strong backlash over pundit expertise.

Stephen A. Smith looks on before the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks in game two of the 2026 NBA Finals at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images
Stephen A. Smith (L) talks with former New York Knicks legend Charles Oakleyi (R) in the stands prior to game five of the 2026 NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs at Frost Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Stephen A. Smith
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Overview

  • On Wednesday, June 17, Stephen A. Smith on ESPN's First Take asked whether 2026 could be the year France would "finally" win the World Cup while discussing France's 3-1 win over Senegal and Mbappé's two goals.
  • The comment was factually incorrect because France has won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018, with Kylian Mbappé a member of the 2018 squad.
  • A short clip of the segment went viral on social platforms and drew immediate ridicule from fans, journalists and soccer analysts across multiple outlets.
  • Smith tied his World Cup speculation to Victor Wembanyama's recent NBA Finals loss, a cross-sport comparison that critics said highlighted a lack of soccer preparation on a major U.S. broadcast.
  • Coverage notes there has been no widely reported formal correction or apology and says the episode has intensified questions about broadcaster preparedness and the role of true soccer experts on U.S. World Cup programming.