Skip to content
NewsFixturesStandingsTeamsPredictBracketLeagues
Group · Matchday 1Upcoming

France vs Senegal — World Cup 2026 Group · Matchday 1

France flagFrance
08days
17hrs
18min
00sec
Senegal flagSenegal
Venue to be confirmed·

Match preview / What to expect

Updated Jun 6, 2026

France against Senegal carries history. Les Bleus are still haunted by 2002, when reigning champions France lost their opener to Senegal and crashed out in the group stage. More than two decades on, the two meet again in New Jersey — and Senegal arrive emboldened after beating England 3-1 at Wembley last June.

France are loaded: reigning Ballon d'Or holder Ousmane Dembele, a resurgent Kylian Mbappe and a defence anchored by William Saliba. Didier Deschamps, in his final tournament in charge, will want an authoritative start. Senegal's golden generation — Sadio Mane in his farewell World Cup, Pape Matar Sarr, Nicolas Jackson — have the physicality and pace to trouble anyone.

Expect France to control possession and Senegal to threaten in transition and from set pieces. The talent gap favours France, but the African side's recent results mean an upset is far from fanciful.

Key storylines

  1. 01Echoes of 2002: Senegal famously beat champions France in that World Cup opener.
  2. 02Recent warning shot: Senegal beat England 3-1 at Wembley last June.
  3. 03Deschamps' last stand: the 2018 winner has confirmed this is his final tournament in charge.
  4. 04Mbappe chasing history: needs two goals to break Just Fontaine's France World Cup record of 13.
  5. 05Mane's farewell: the 34-year-old captain has said he will retire from international football after this World Cup.

Prediction

Kickoff editorial call

France's depth should prove decisive, but Senegal will make them work. Projected: France 2-1 Senegal in a tense, high-quality opener.

Projected lineups

Projected XI — not confirmed
France flag

France

Formation 4-3-3
  1. 1Mike Maignan (GK)
  2. 2Jules Kounde
  3. 3William Saliba
  4. 4Dayot Upamecano
  5. 5Theo Hernandez
  6. 6Aurelien Tchouameni
  7. 7N'Golo Kante
  8. 8Warren Zaire-Emery
  9. 9Michael Olise
  10. 10Kylian Mbappe
  11. 11Ousmane Dembele
Senegal flag

Senegal

Formation 4-3-3
  1. 1Edouard Mendy (GK)
  2. 2Youssouf Sabaly
  3. 3Kalidou Koulibaly
  4. 4Moussa Niakhate
  5. 5Ismail Jakobs
  6. 6Idrissa Gana Gueye
  7. 7Pape Matar Sarr
  8. 8Lamine Camara
  9. 9Ismaila Sarr
  10. 10Nicolas Jackson
  11. 11Sadio Mane

Team news

France flag

France

  • Hugo Ekitike is ruled out with a ruptured Achilles tendon.
  • Eduardo Camavinga was cut after an underwhelming season at Real Madrid.
  • Mbappe is back to top form with Real Madrid and chasing the France scoring record.
Senegal flag

Senegal

  • Captain Sadio Mane plays his last World Cup before retiring from international football.
  • Senegal qualified unbeaten and beat England 3-1 at Wembley last June.
  • Ageing leaders and inconsistent creators are the squad's main question marks under Pape Thiaw.

Sources

Preview is editorial. Projected lineups are not confirmed team sheets.

Predict this match

Group · Matchday 18d 17h
France flagFrance
0
:
0
Senegal flagSenegal
Log in to predict

Exact 3 pts · correct result 1 pt

Want it to count? Open the predictor → to lock in your scoreline before kickoff and climb your league.

Head-to-head

H2H history connects with results data — recent meetings, form and goal trends will appear here once match results are loaded.

Watch along

Rate the players

Score every player live and see the community average build in real time.

→

Drop a hot take

Call it before it happens — genius or clown, the timeline decides.

→
← Back to all fixtures