Wembanyama leads, Henry lingers: taking the pulse of French sport in the United States | OneFootball

French sport’s profile in the United States swings between instant recognition and head-scratching, with Victor Wembanyama and swimmer Léon Marchand the standout names. According to L'Équipe, a sweep through southern California tested that reputation before USA faced Paraguay at Sofi Stadium.

At Santa Monica Rugby Club, a player quickly remembered Antoine Dupont, then even Sébastien Chabal, before praising the famed French flair, while joking that compatriots dazzled with feet and passing more than contact.

Others struggled. One thought first of Pau Gasol, another only realised Wembanyama is French after noting how many francophones come from former colonies.

Dayton, the fly-half, rattled off Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Chevalier. He knew Eduardo Camavinga would miss the World Cup, unlike Aurélien Tchouaméni, and said Paris 2024 showcased wider French strengths.

Will, a bearded back-rower, believed France were highly competitive, especially in rugby and football. He called Dupont the world’s best and praised his versatility, and even knew the ‘third half’ tradition.

In Long Beach, American Outlaws watched Germany beat the USA 2-1 on 6 June. Talk turned to Zinédine Zidane and Thierry Henry, while a Tottenham fan said club loyalty trumped passports and a Galaxy supporter drew a blank.

Tyler, from Newbury Park, compared PSG’s resources to the Dodgers, wondered about a French salary cap, and pointed to a recent NBA pipeline that Wembanyama now headlines.

Further north, one Oregon-based observer called Wembanyama the biggest French superstar in America, noting events still overshadow Ligue 1’s niche coverage.

Source: L'Équipe