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Who: France vs Senegal
Content: 2026 FIFA World Cup
Location: New Jersey Stadium, New York, New Jersey, USA
Date and time: Tuesday, June 16th, 3pm local time (19:00 GMT)
How to follow: Catch all the live updates on Al Jazeera Sports
Senegal vs. France has to be one of the most memorable matches in World Cup history, but for Les Bleus it was for all the wrong reasons.
Senegal, playing for the first time in the tournament, dominated the defending champions, who had been plagued by off-field issues, in the opening game of the 2002 tournament in Seoul, South Korea, winning 1-0 thanks to Papa Bouba Diop’s goal after 30 minutes. Current Lions of Teranga coach Pape Tiaw watched from the bench.
It remains the only meeting between the two countries, which have bonded over their 300-year history, but Tuesday’s return to New York and New Jersey will not only be a new shock for the soccer world as a whole, but also a special occasion for the 10 French-born members of the Senegalese squad.
Deschamps aims to finish on a high note
Spain may be the close favorites to win the 2026 World Cup, but is there a more consistent and talented team than France?
Didier Deschamps is looking to end his illustrious 14-year tenure as France manager by leading Les Bleus to their third World Cup success.
Deschamps lifted the trophy as captain for his country in 1998 and then led his country to success in Russia in 2018, but he failed to become the second manager to win the World Cup twice, only losing on penalties to Argentina in the 2022 final.
With his contract due to end in July and Zinedine Zidane on the sidelines, Deschamps, who has been the longest-serving manager in the competition at five years, will be aiming for his best result by reaching the final for the third successive year at East Rutherford on July 19. If he wins three games here, he will become the most successful manager in World Cup history with 17 wins in the tournament.
Despite a somewhat underwhelming performance at Euro 2024, scoring just four goals in six games, including a penalty and two own goals, and losing to Spain in the semi-finals, France only dropped two points to qualify for the tournament after drawing with Iceland.
They have arguably the most talented attacking line-up in the game today, with Kylian Mbappé supported by Ousmane Dembele, Michael Oliseh, as well as the likes of Bradley Barcola and Desiree Douye.
Mbappe hasn’t had the happiest days at Real Madrid, but he still managed to score 42 goals in all competitions, and no player has scored more than 12 in the last two World Cups (including a hat-trick in the 2022 final, his last appearance). He was just one goal away from Olivier Giroud’s French national team record of 57 goals.
Olise shone for Bayern Munich with 26 assists, scoring a hat-trick in the final training game against Northern Ireland after a disastrous 2-1 defeat at home to Ivory Coast, while Dembele averaged 1.4 goals and assists per 90 minutes in Ligue 1, helping Paris Saint-Germain to back-to-back Champions League titles.
Senegal aims for deep run
Whether you consider them African champions or not, Senegal are not in the World Cup just to make up the numbers.
After the controversial final against Morocco in January, they appealed the Confederation of African Football’s decision to strip them of the title, but their status as AFCON champions remains undecided.
With the score tied, Morocco were awarded a last-minute penalty and the Lions of Teranga left the pitch. Brahim Dias missed a penalty in the 24th minute of stoppage time, and after a long delay, Papa Gueye scored the winning goal in extra time, but Senegal were subsequently stripped of their title and have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Pape Thiau’s side remained unbeaten in qualifying, topping their group with seven wins from 10 games and conceding just three goals, and are gunning for a place in the finals despite being allocated to the test group of France, Norway and Iraq.
Their last defeat outside of the AFCON final was in the last 16 against England in Qatar in 2022. They have remained unbeaten in 30 games since then, and despite a warm-up loss to the United States and a stalemate with Saudi Arabia, the talented squad boasts 20 players who play in Europe’s top five leagues.
French team news
France defender William Saliba has returned to full training after aggravating a back injury suffered in Arsenal’s Champions League final defeat to PSG, while Jules Kounde has shaken off a bruise he sustained against Northern Ireland, and both sides will be at full strength ahead of the game.
Senegal team news
Sadio Mane endured a nightmare 2022 season in Qatar hampered by injuries but is fit to start, and Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye should also be fine despite leaving Saturday’s training early.
