Stephen A. Smith criticized for wrong France World Cup claim

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith faced swift criticism on Wednesday after incorrectly suggesting France was still seeking its first World Cup victory during an episode of ESPN's "First Take." The longtime analyst made the remark while discussing the French national team's prospects in the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

During a segment, Smith shifted focus to France and star forward Kylian Mbappé, who had scored twice in his team's opening 3-1 win over Senegal on Tuesday. "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?" Smith asked.

The comment immediately drew attention because France is a two-time World Cup champion, having won the tournament in 1998 as the host nation and again in 2018 in Russia. Mbappé was a key member of the 2018 squad, becoming the youngest French player to score in a World Cup and netting a goal in the final against Croatia.

Social media users quickly highlighted the error. NBA reporter Justin Russo posted a widely circulated message stating, "Leave the analysis, before the analysis leaves you." Other reactions ranged from calling the mistake "embarrassing" to criticizing it as a...