Senegal take on France on Tuesday 16 June 2026 in a Group I opener at the FIFA World Cup 2026, staged at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The heavyweight fixture reunites two of the strongest sides at the tournament, with Les Bleus chasing a third world title and the Lions of Teranga aiming to reach the knockouts again.
What is FIFA World Cup 2026?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is the 23rd edition of the men’s World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July 2026. The tournament is the first to feature 48 nations, split across 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advancing to a 32-team knockout stage. The final is scheduled for Sunday 19 July at MetLife Stadium.
Group I brings together France, Senegal, Norway, and Iraq, a pool featuring two of the potential dark horses of the tournament.
When is Senegal vs France?
Senegal vs France kicks off at 15:00 ET (20:00 BST) on Tuesday 16 June 2026. It is the first match of Group I’s opening matchday, followed later the same day by Iraq vs Norway in Foxborough.
Where is Senegal vs France?
The match is played at MetLife Stadium, home to the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets. The venue has a World Cup capacity of around 82,500, making it the largest host stadium of the 2026 tournament, and will also stage the World Cup final on 19 July 2026.
Key Contenders
France arrive as runners-up from Qatar 2022, where they lost the final to Argentina on penalties. Didier Deschamps’ squad is built around Kylian Mbappe, supported by Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and a deep pool of attacking talent. France are among the tournament favourites and are expected to win Group I.
Senegal reached the round of 16 at Qatar 2022 and again qualified as African group winners. Under Pape Thiaw, the Lions of Teranga are led by goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, defender Kalidou Koulibaly, and forwards Sadio Mane and Nicolas Jackson. They will relish another shot at France, a fixture that carries added weight given Senegal’s 2002 World Cup upset of Les Bleus.
How to Watch
In the United Kingdom the match airs live on BBC or ITV, with streaming on BBC iPlayer or ITVX. In the United States, Fox Sports holds English-language rights and Telemundo the Spanish-language rights. Canadian viewers can watch on TSN and CTV, while French-speaking viewers can tune to TF1 and beIN Sports in France. FIFA+ provides highlights worldwide.
History and Records
France and Senegal have met once before at a World Cup. In the opening match of the 2002 tournament, Senegal produced one of the great upsets in World Cup history, beating the defending champions 1-0 in Seoul thanks to a Papa Bouba Diop goal. France have won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018, while Senegal’s best tournament result was reaching the quarter-finals in 2002.
Tickets and Attendance
Tickets for Senegal vs France are sold via FIFA’s official portal at FIFA.com/tickets. Demand is expected to be very high given the profile of both teams and the stadium’s status as the final venue. Hospitality packages and official resale are available through the same platform, and group-stage ticket prices start from around 60 US dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Senegal vs France start?
The match kicks off at 15:00 ET (20:00 BST) on Tuesday 16 June 2026.
Where is Senegal vs France being held?
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
How can I watch Senegal vs France?
BBC or ITV in the UK, Fox and Telemundo in the US, TSN and CTV in Canada.
Who won the last Senegal vs France World Cup meeting?
Senegal beat France 1-0 in the opening match of the 2002 World Cup in Seoul.