In a packed Stade de France Monday night, France edged out the United States 3–2 in a fiery pre-Olympic warm-up, with Kylian Mbappé scoring twice in front of a roaring home crowd.
A quick recap: both sides fielded near-full-strength Olympic squads, with France pressing high and the U.S. relying on counter-attacks led by Gio Reyna and Malik Tillman.
The match delivered end-to-end action. Mbappé’s curling strike in the 18th minute electrified fans, while Reyna equalized just before halftime after a swift transition play.
France took the lead again in the 63rd minute and sealed the deal with a late penalty, though the U.S. responded with a stoppage-time goal that made things tense until the final whistle.
In short, Olympic anticipation is building—with both nations showing real medal potential.
Coaches Thierry Henry and Gregg Berhalter praised the intensity and talent on display, calling the fixture “ideal preparation” for the July 26 Olympic football tournament kickoff.
This victory boosts French confidence as hosts, while U.S. fans can take heart in their side’s resilience—and the emergence of a promising new midfield core.
