NEW YORK June 16, 2026 — In a dazzling display of international sportsmanship, the Empire State Building lit up its iconic tower in blue, white, and red — the colors of the French flag — to honor France’s opening victory in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The landmark’s lights shone brightly against the Manhattan skyline Tuesday night following France’s 3-1 triumph over Senegal in Group I at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Kylian Mbappé stole the show, scoring twice — including a dramatic stoppage-time goal that made him France’s all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals. Bradley Barcola added the other strike for the defending champions, while Senegal managed a late consolation.
The Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) posted video of the lighting on X, captioning it: “France wins. 3-1. 🇫🇷 Blue, white, and red light up the New York City skyline tonight in celebration of Les Bleus.” The post included a live cam link and encouraged followers to text CONNECT to 274-16 for lighting alerts.
This marks one of several tributes the building has paid to the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Earlier in the year, it rotated through the host nations’ flag colors to mark 100 days until kickoff.
Fans in New York, home to a large French expatriate community and Senegal supporters (who turned Times Square into a vibrant Dakar-like atmosphere pre-match), celebrated the result with global flair.
The victory puts France at the top of Group I. Mbappé’s performance silenced recent critics and highlighted the depth of Didier Deschamps’ squad.
The Empire State Building has a long tradition of illuminating in honor of major sporting events, cultural milestones, and international victories — turning a New York icon into a beacon for the world’s biggest stage.
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