Stephen A. Smith is facing backlash online after viewers spotted what many called an awkward mistake in his World Cup analysis.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 is underway, with fans across the US, Mexico and Canada following every twist of the tournament.
This year marks the 23rd staging of the competition, and the first time it has expanded to 48 teams while being hosted by three nations. The tournament began on June 11 and is scheduled to wrap up on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
One of this week’s headline matches came on Tuesday, June 16, when France took on Senegal at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
France secured a 3-1 win, and while plenty of the conversation focused on the result itself, Smith ended up drawing attention for a very different reason during a discussion on ESPN’s First Take.
While recapping the game on Wednesday, June 17, Smith focused heavily on Kylian Mbappe and France’s chances of going all the way.
“For me, it’s about Mbappe for France. He scores two goals yesterday. OK, remember, he scored a hat trick in the finals loss 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. I’m wondering what France is going to do.”
He then added:
“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 of doing, because he’s done it before.”
That comment quickly spread online, with football supporters pointing out the obvious issue: France have already lifted the World Cup before.
In fact, France won the tournament in 1998 and again in 2018, which made Smith’s suggestion that this could be the year they “finally” win it especially baffling to viewers.
It didn’t take long for social media users to pile in.
“Ain’t no way that Stephen A. Smith doesn’t know that France has already won the World Cup before. But in all seriousness do these people (in this case I’m talking about Stephen A. Smith) not do their research before coming on live tv to talk about sports?”
"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
“I’m not asking Stephen A. Smith to become a soccer expert. I’m asking him to put in a modicum of effort and simply look up whether or not a team has won the World Cup, as France has done twice during SAS career,” another commented.
“It’s embarrassing for a sports network to be this indifferent in covering the world’s biggest sporting event…” A third added.
“Could 2026 finally be the year Stephen A. Smith wins a clue about soccer?”
Even so, others may feel the reaction has been a little over the top for what was ultimately an on-air slip.
Representatives for Stephen A. Smith have been contacted for comment.