France makes unwanted history by conceding 4 goals in first half Les Bleus experienced a historic nightmare during the third-place playoff match at the 2026 World Cup. For the first time in their history, the French team conceded four goals in a single half of a major tournament.

What happened? As early as the 3rd minute, France was already trailing 1-0, and by the 16th minute, they were down 2-0. This is the first time in the history of the French team that they have conceded two goals in the opening twenty minutes of a World Cup match. The last time the Blues were 2-0 down after 20 minutes was against Romania in 2008.

Why it matters for France The disastrous first-half performance was heavily criticized. The Blues responded in the second half with goals from Mbappé (48th) and Barcola (54th), but the damage was already done. This defeat marks a stark contrast with their recent form, which has seen them win their last five matches, including a 2-0 victory against Morocco on July 9, 2026.

What comes next? After this humiliation, France will need to prepare for their next match against Turkey on September 25, 2026. The Blues will have to bounce back from this disappointing performance and regain their level of play for the upcoming challenges.