Tournament favourites France open their 2026 FIFA World Cup Group I campaign against reigning AFCON champions Senegal at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey on Tuesday, 17 June 2026 (19:00 UTC / 22:00 EAT (Tuesday, 17 June 2026)). This is a rematch of their famous 2002 World Cup opener. Our prediction: Over 1.5 goals.
Match details
| Field | Detail |
| Competition | 2026 FIFA World Cup — Group I opener |
| Date & kick-off | Tuesday, 17 June 2026 at 19:00 UTC / 22:00 EAT (Tuesday, 17 June 2026) |
| Venue | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA |
| Where to watch | Dstv and Gotv |
The rematch 24 years in the making
France arrive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup as one of the outright favourites for the title. Didier Deschamps takes charge of his 20th World Cup match as France manager, with a chance to equal the all-time record of 25 over the course of this tournament. France qualified in near-perfect form — five wins and one draw — and are chasing a historic achievement: becoming just the third nation ever to reach three consecutive World Cup finals, having lost on post-match penalties to Argentina in 2022.
Kylian Mbappé enters the tournament with a personal milestone in sight: 16 World Cup goals would equal Miroslav Klose’s all-time record. France’s depth across all positions makes them the most complete squad in Group I by some distance. Their only recent defeat was a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast ten days before the tournament — the sole blemish in a 13-game run.
Senegal arrive as reigning AFCON champions and are making their third successive World Cup appearance, equalling the record for any African nation. But their pre-tournament form has been patchy — a 3-2 loss to the USA and a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia in their final two warm-ups — and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 World Cup matches. With the firepower France carry in their attack, that record is a significant concern for Aliou Cissé’s side.
The historical context adds an extra layer. This is a direct rematch of the 2002 World Cup group stage opener, in which Senegal produced one of the tournament’s great upsets — a 1-0 victory that helped launch their run to the quarter-finals. It remains the only previous meeting between the two nations. France will be motivated to avoid a repeat; Senegal will draw inspiration from it.
Group I also features Austria and New Zealand. France are heavy favourites to top the group, but Senegal will be targeting a positive result here to stake their own claim on second place.
Team news and expected line-ups
France: Jules Kounde’s fitness is the primary selection concern. If he is passed fit, he starts alongside Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, and Theo Hernandez in defence, with Mike Maignan in goal. Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué are expected to start on either flank, with Michael Olise also in the XI. Adrien Rabiot and N’Golo Kanté anchor the midfield. Kylian Mbappé leads the attack.
France expected XI: Maignan (GK); Kounde (if fit), Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez; Kante, Rabiot; Dembele, Doue, Olise; Mbappe. — Update on Kounde fitness and confirm once official line-ups released.
Senegal have a fully fit squad. Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich) starts up front alongside Sadio Mané (Al Nassr). Premier League trio Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye, and Idrissa Gana Guéye headline the XI, with the side expected to be unchanged from the starting XI that faced Saudi Arabia in their final warm-up friendly.
Senegal expected XI: (GK); (RB), (CB), (CB), (LB); Gueye, (CM); Sarr, Ndiaye, (W); Jackson / Mane. — Update once official line-ups confirmed.
Key stats
- France: ranked 3rd in the world by FIFA. Reigning World Cup finalists (lost to Argentina on penalties in 2022).
- France: qualified with W5 D1 — near-perfect qualifying record.
- France: targeting a third consecutive World Cup final appearance — would make them only the third nation in history to achieve that.
- France form (last 5): W L W W W — only defeat was a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast. Unbeaten in 13 of last 14 matches.
- Kylian Mbappe: targeting Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals.
- Didier Deschamps: this is his 20th World Cup match in charge of France.
- Senegal: reigning AFCON champions. Third consecutive World Cup — equalling the African record.
- Senegal: failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 11 World Cup matches.
- Senegal form (last 5): D L W W L — lost 3-2 to USA; drew 0-0 with Saudi Arabia in final two warm-ups.
- Senegal: lost just 2 of their last 14 matches overall.
- H2H: only one previous meeting — Senegal 1-0 France at the 2002 World Cup group stage (31 May 2002). Senegal’s only win over France.
- Group I: France, Senegal, Austria, New Zealand.
Head-to-head
France and Senegal have met only once in their history: the iconic 2002 World Cup group stage opener in Seoul, which Senegal won 1-0 through a goal from Papa Bouba Diop. That result triggered one of the tournament’s great upsets and launched Senegal’s run to the quarter-finals. It remains the only previous meeting between the two nations across 24 years of football.
| Date | Result |
| 31 May 2002 | Senegal 1–0 France (World Cup group stage, Seoul) |
Current form
| Team | Last 5 |
| France | W L W W W |
| Senegal | D L W W L |
Our prediction
Twenty-four years separate these two sides’ only previous meeting, and much has changed. France’s current squad is among the most expensively assembled in World Cup history, and their form and quality in the final third gives them a clear edge on paper. Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise, and Doué represent a level of attacking threat Senegal’s defence has not consistently handled at this level in recent months.
However, Senegal have proven their resilience as a collective under Cissé. They are the reigning African champions, and Mané and Jackson give them the quality to threaten at the other end. Their inability to keep a clean sheet at World Cups — 11 matches without one — is the key factor pointing towards goals in this fixture.
France have lost three of their last four World Cup matches against African opposition, a statistic that complicates the simple narrative of favourites versus underdogs. The result is harder to call than the rankings suggest, but goals from both sides remain the most likely outcome.
Disclaimer: Our prediction: Over 1.5 goals
Odds and markets
Odds correct at UTC on 16/06/26 and subject to change.
How to bet on SportPesa
- Open the France vs Senegal event page on SportPesa (link above).
- Choose your market — Single Bet (SB), Multi-Bet (MB), or Live Bet (LB) once the match starts.
- Enter your stake and place your bet.
Frequently asked questions
What time does France vs Senegal kick off?
Kick-off is at 19:00 UTC / 22:00 EAT (Tuesday, 17 June 2026) on Tuesday, 17 June 2026, at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA.
Have France and Senegal played before?
Yes — once. Senegal beat France 1-0 in the 2002 FIFA World Cup group stage on 31 May 2002 in Seoul. That result remains the only meeting between the two nations and stands as one of the most famous upsets in World Cup history.
What group are France and Senegal in at World Cup 2026?
Both sides are in Group I alongside Austria and New Zealand.
Who is France’s key player at World Cup 2026?
Kylian Mbappé is the central figure of the French attack and enters the tournament targeting Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record of 16 goals. Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise provide additional creative threat from wide positions.
Who is Senegal’s key player at World Cup 2026?
Sadio Mané and Nicolas Jackson lead the Senegalese attack. Mané, now at Al Nassr, remains the most influential player in the squad and a key figure in the Lions of Teranga’s ambitions at this tournament.
Has Senegal ever beaten France at the World Cup? Yes. Senegal’s only previous meeting with France was a 1-0 World Cup group stage win in 2002, which helped launch their run to the quarter-finals — their best-ever World Cup finish.