The 2026 FIFA World Cup has seen a number of teams have great opening matches, led by Argentina and France’s dominant victories. The last two World Cup winners are considered among the front-runners to win this year’s tournament, but some folks paid to talk about sports may not know.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was tasked with speaking about the FIFA World Cup during Wednesday morning’s episode of First Take. But it’s safe to say that didn’t go very well.
Here’s an snippet of what Smith said during the broadcast:
“But really for me, it’s about Mbappe and France,” Smith started. “He scored two goals yesterday. Remember, he scored a hat trick in the Final and lost to Argentina in 2022. I’m wondering whether or not this is the year for France. I’m thinking about France because of Wemby and how he just went home in the NBA Finals. But 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, considering Mbappe and what we saw him do yesterday and what we know he’s capable doing because we’ve seen him do it before.”
"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?" – Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/IzJXmawAI8
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 17, 2026
The problem with Stephen A. Smith’s analysis is that France actually just won the World Cup in 2018, and in 2022, lost the Final against Argentina in penalties after a 3-3 draw through extra time.
In the history of the FIFA World Cup, there have only been two back-to-back winners in Italy (1934, 1938) and Brazil (1958, 1962).
The tweet video that’s going around social media has 162 quote tweets and 123 replies, with a lot of reactions from fans and soccer analysts on social media.
“Leave the analysis, before the analysis leaves you,” said Twitter user Justin Russo.
Leave the analysis, before the analysis leaves you. https://t.co/A67qX2xpk3
— Justin Russo (@FlyByKnite) June 17, 2026
“Hopefully Argentina and Messi can also finally get it done and win the World Cup,” another user said in a post. “It’s been so long.”
Hopefully Argentina and Messi can also finally get it done and win the World Cup. It’s been so long
— Timothy Sutton (@tsutton94) June 17, 2026
Former soccer player Taylor Twellman tweeted out three emojis of a frozen face, highlighting just how cold of a take it was.
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) June 17, 2026
“Just embarrassing sh-t lol,” another Twitter said.
Just embarrassing shit lol https://t.co/HkgsIHXWG3
— Mike Martignago (@MikeMartignago) June 17, 2026
The post Stephen A. Smith gets wrecked for incorrect France World Cup take appeared first on ClutchPoints.
