New York – 30.06.2026: On this World Cup day an unusual sight can be seen in bars and street cafés around MetLife Stadium: US supporters wearing Equipe tricolore jerseys, many with the names Kylian Mbappé or Ousmane Dembélé. Despite their own national team taking part in the tournament, they visibly back France – less as a tourist gimmick than as a deliberate choice. Families, young couples and long-time football fans can be seen, people who understand the sport as a global bond and follow France’s performances with particular sympathy.
The reasons are varied. Mentioned are the speed, technique and determination that have shaped France in recent years. Mbappé embodies this mix like few others, local fans say. Added to that is an appreciation for Didier Deschamps’ approach: a pragmatic but not fearful balance between security and vertical power, which many observers say was visible in the group stage. Some point to formative experiences with French clubs in European competitions or to contacts with players who had stops in US leagues.
Many also talk about a sporting sting: defeats against Argentina in earlier tournaments are both memory and motivation. There is no talk of hostility, rather of sporting rivalry and the desire for a high-class knockout clash on a big stage. The arguments remain mostly sober: whoever wants to win titles must beat the strongest opponents – and France has the potential to clear exactly that hurdle.
The fan presence is organized and visible. Public broadcasts, fan events and notices from the Fédération Française de Football create meeting points where a temporary community forms. Broadcasters like M6 and beIN SPORTS provide the appropriate framework; added to that are local bars that let blue tones dominate the décor and jersey choice during France matches. For many US fans this is the occasion to take a clear position – and to follow France’s games as a block.
On the pitch, conversations discuss roles a lot: Dembélé as the pace-setter, Mbappé as the focal point, plus a midfield that must clear paths and shape transitions precisely. Expectations are high but not romanticized. Whether the support from New York translates into effect on the field remains open. One thing is certain: the atmosphere helps – and it makes the World Cup days in the metropolis a shared experience for France’s supporters on both sides of the Atlantic.
Sources
- franceinfo
- Fédération Française de Football (FFF)