It seems Stephen A. Smith isn’t dialed in on World Cup history.
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.
Smith got on the topic after talking about French star Kylian Mbappé’s prowess.
“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.
Mbappé even scored in the 2018 final, helping France on its way to defeating Croatia.
The sports world slammed Smith for his lack of knowledge on France’s World Cup history.
NBA journalist Justin Russo posted on X: “Leave the analysis, before the analysis leaves you.”
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.
France will continue its quest for a third World Cup on Monday when facing Iraq at 5 p.m. ET.
