France defeated Senegal 3-1 at the New York New Jersey Stadium, but the match was overshadowed by a baffling VAR decision involving Kylian Mbappe. In the 58th minute, Sadio Mane's challenge sent Mbappe tumbling in the box, prompting referee Alireza Faghani to review the incident. After consulting the monitor, Faghani initially gestured toward the penalty spot before inexplicably awarding a goal-kick instead.

The decision left football officials and pundits scratching their heads. Darren Cann, a 2010 World Cup final assistant referee, revealed his phone 'had blown up' with messages from fellow referees who couldn't understand why no penalty was given. Pat Nevin labelled it a 'rubbish decision,' while Alan Shearer called it 'bizarre,' questioning how Mbappe could have initiated contact while positioned in front of Mane.

Mbappe silenced critics by scoring twice, securing his place as France's all-time leading scorer with 58 goals in 99 appearances. The Real Madrid forward also became France's World Cup record scorer with 14 goals in just 15 tournament matches. Despite the officiating controversy, France's superior quality shone through, with the victory demonstrating their credentials as defending champions.

Cann summed up the widespread disbelief, stating he 'can't support the referee's decision' and called it 'very, very clear' that a penalty should have been awarded. The incident highlights ongoing VAR inconsistencies that continue to frustrate players, managers, and fans alike.