France, who were the favorites to win the World Cup in 2018, 2022, and now again in 2026, will open their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign against Senegal in a Group I clash. This clash will be a rematch of their famous 2002 World Cup opener, when Senegal stunned France with a 1-0 victory.
France vs Senegal Head-to-Head
France and Senegal have faced each other twice in International Football, and the head-to-head record is balanced as both sides have won 1 match each.
The most memorable meeting between France and Senegal came at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. On 31 May 2002, Senegal took on defending champions France in their first-ever World Cup match. Despite being the favourites, France were shocked as Senegal pulled off a famous 1-0 win. Papa Bouba Diop scored the only goal of the match in the 30th minute, while France missed the presence of injured star Zinedine Zidane. The result remains one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
Both sides met again three years later in an international friendly in Auxerre. This time, France came out on top with a comfortable 3-0 victory, thanks to goals from William Gallas, Thierry Henry, and Sylvain Wiltord.
Now, France and Senegal are set to face each other for a third time at the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage. With one win each from their previous meetings, both teams will be keen to gain the upper hand and start their campaign on a winning note.
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Team Form
France has been in a red-hot form as they have won three out of their last four matches. Meanwhile, in the warm-up match against Northern Ireland, Michael Olise scored a hat-trick of goals. They also defeated Colombia 3-1 and Brazil 2-1 in March. They only lost one match against the Ivory Coast 1-2.
Under head coach Didier Deschamps, France has scored at least two goals in 11 of their last 12 matches. However, their defence has been a concern for the side, with Les Bleus conceding in each of their previous five games despite regularly finding the net themselves.
Meanwhile, Senegal will enter the tournament with mixed results in their recent outings. Their clash against Saudi Arabia ended in a goalless draw, before suffering a 3-2 defeat to the United States. Victories over Gambia and Peru provided some positives, but the side lacks consistency.
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One statistic that will worry Senegal is its defensive record at the World Cup. They have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 11 matches at the tournament, a run they will be keen to end in their opening game against France.
FIFA World Cup 2026 France vs Senegal Prediction
France will head into the opener as the stronger side based on recent form, squad depth, and attacking firepower. Whereas, Senegal have enough quality to trouble the French defence, their inconsistent results and poor defensive record at the World Cup could prove costly against a team that has been scoring freely under Didier Deschamps. Expect Senegal to put up a fight and possibly find the back of the net, but France should have enough quality in the final third to secure all three points.
Prediction: France 2-1 Senegal.
France vs Senegal Probable starting XI
France Probable starting XI
Mike Maignan; Jules Koundé, William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, T. Hernández; Aurélien Tchouaméni, Adrien Rabiot; Ousmane Dembélé, Michael Olise, Doué; Kylian Mbappé.
Senegal Probable starting XI
Édouard Mendy; Krépin Diatta, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhaté, El Hadji Diouf; Lamine Camara, P. Gueye; Ismaïla Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, Saido Mané; Nicolas Jackson.
Frequently asked questions
1. What time does the France vs Senegal FIFA World Cup 2026 match kick off?
The Group I match kicks off at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BST/ 12:30 a.m. IST
2. Where will the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group I match between France and Senegal take place?
It will take place at East Rutherford Stadium in the United States
3. How to watch the FIFA World Cup 2026 match between France and Senegal?
United States – FOX Network, fuboTV, Telemundo, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, FOX One
Canada – TSN+, TSN1, TSN4, TSN5, RDS, CTV, RDS App, CTV App, Crave
México – Canal 5 Televisa, TUDN, Azteca 7, TUDN En Vivo, Las Estrellas, Azteca Deportes En Vivo, ViX México
United Kingdom – BBC Sport Web, BBC One, BBC iPlayer
India – Unite8 Sports Channel
Also Read: France vs Senegal: Can Senegal Repeat Their Famous 2002 World Cup Upset?
