France take on Senegal as Didier Deschamps’ men begin their World Cup campaign on Tuesday, looking to make it to the final three times in a row.
France vs Senegal – Match preview and team news
- Date: Tuesday, 16th June.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: New York, New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford.
France team news
France enters their highly anticipated 2026 World Cup Group I opener with a nearly full squad.
Les Bleus received a massive boost as star defender William Saliba returned to full training. He has completely overcome a recent back issue.
Right-back Jules Koundé is also fit to start after shaking off a minor knock. Manager Didier Deschamps will likely deploy a sharp 4-2-3-1 system.
Mike Maignan will start in goal behind a backline of Theo Hernández, Saliba, Dayot Upamecano, and Koundé. Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot will anchor the midfield. This strong duo will shield the defence and launch quick attacks.
In attack, Désiré Doué, Ousmane Dembélé, and Michael Olise will provide creative spark. They will look to feed superstar striker Kylian Mbappé. This terrifyingly fast attack will test Senegal’s defence early.
Senegal team news
Senegal looks incredibly strong and healthy ahead of this massive opening match. Star winger Sadio Mané is completely fit. He is eager to shine after missing out on the previous World Cup through injury.
Experienced midfielder Idrissa Gueye is also ready to play. He quickly recovered from a minor scare during a weekend training session.
Forward Cherif Ndiaye and winger Assane Diao remain the only slight doubts with small knocks.
Coach Pape Thiaw will likely choose a robust 4-3-3 formation to counter the French attack. Édouard Mendy will start in goal.
Veteran defender Kalidou Koulibaly will lead the backline alongside Moussa Niakhaté. Lamine Camara and Pape Gueye will control the center of the pitch.
Up front, Nicolas Jackson will lead the line. He will get plenty of support from Mané and Iliman Ndiaye.
Form
France
France is in strong form heading into the tournament. They won four of their last five matches. During this run, they secured impressive friendly victories over Brazil (2-1) and Colombia (3-1) in March. After a minor setback in a 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast, Les Bleus quickly bounced back. They finished their warm-up schedule with a dominant 3-1 win over Northern Ireland.
Senegal
Senegal brings mixed form into the opening match. They won two, drew one, and lost two of their last five games. They enjoyed solid wins against Peru (2-0) and Gambia (3-1) in their spring friendlies. However, the Lions of Teranga struggled in their final preparation games. They fell 3-2 to the United States and played out a 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia.
Predicted lineups
France: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Rabiot; Olise, Doue, Mbappe; Dembele
Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Diouf; Camara, P. Gueye; Sarr, Diarra, Mane; Jackson
How to watch France vs Senegal?
In the United Kingdom, you can watch the France vs. Senegal match live and for free on BBC One and stream it online via BBC iPlayer.
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