Pogba backs Mbappe to lead France on and off the pitch

NEW YORK: France begin their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Senegal on Tuesday night (10 p.m., KSA) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, with Didier Deschamps’ side once again among the favorites to challenge for football’s biggest prize.

Ahead of the Group I opener, former France midfielder Paul Pogba spoke exclusively to Arab News during an appearance at Adidas’ Home of Soccer fan experience in New York, sharing his thoughts on what separates World Cup champions from the rest and why he believes Les Bleus have the qualities to go deep into the tournament.

Pogba was speaking at Brooklyn Bridge Park, a 25,000-square-foot fan hub that has become one of the focal points of World Cup celebrations in New York. The activation has welcomed thousands of supporters and featured appearances from football legends including Zinedine Zidane, Kaka, Ian Wright and Pogba.

For the man who helped France win the World Cup in 2018, success at football’s biggest tournament starts long before the knockout rounds. Asked what separates World Cup winners from the rest, Pogba pointed to the importance of a strong group stage and togetherness within the squad.

“First of all, (you need) a good group stage,” he told Arab News. “You can be lucky when you pick teams, but I would say team spirit matters the most.”